Who We Serve
Utah Pet Partners serves people of all ages and abilities. Our services are provided by volunteers, with no charge to clients or facilities, so we are able to serve people from every economic level. Because of the size of our modest but growing number of therapy animal teams and our commitment to quality, we focus our activities along the Wasatch front and back. We look forward to a time we are able to develop the infrastructure of mentors and area coordinators to support teams in other areas of Utah that are already requesting our services.
Hospitals
We are proud to have a contract with Intermountain Health Care for service in hospitals throughout Utah, and our teams serve in Ogden Regional Medical Center, Promise Hospital, and Landmark Hospital. Patients and visitors in medical and surgical units, ICU, CCU, orthopedics, pediatrics, oncology, and stressful waiting areas experience the calming, empathetic, and compassionate presence of our therapy teams.
We are proud to have a contract with Intermountain Health Care for service in hospitals throughout Utah, and our teams serve in Ogden Regional Medical Center, Promise Hospital, and Landmark Hospital. Patients and visitors in medical and surgical units, ICU, CCU, orthopedics, pediatrics, oncology, and stressful waiting areas experience the calming, empathetic, and compassionate presence of our therapy teams.
Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing
Elderly people, adults, and sometimes even adolescents need specialized care after severe accidents and illnesses in rehabilitation and skilled nursing facilities. Visits by our therapy animal teams break up the monotony of challenging physical and occupational therapy sessions and bring motivation, hope, relaxation, and sometimes even the relief of pain.
Elderly people, adults, and sometimes even adolescents need specialized care after severe accidents and illnesses in rehabilitation and skilled nursing facilities. Visits by our therapy animal teams break up the monotony of challenging physical and occupational therapy sessions and bring motivation, hope, relaxation, and sometimes even the relief of pain.
Assisted Living, Long Term Care, Memory Care, Hospice
As older adults enter specialized care facilities, they often experience loneliness and disconnection. Our therapy animal teams come ready to listen to their stories and reminiscences with interest and quiet attention. Interesting visitors with dogs and cats become friends, lifting isolation and depression.
As older adults enter specialized care facilities, they often experience loneliness and disconnection. Our therapy animal teams come ready to listen to their stories and reminiscences with interest and quiet attention. Interesting visitors with dogs and cats become friends, lifting isolation and depression.
Adult Mental Health
Adults with mental illness, PTSD, or battling substance use disorders may struggle with anxiety, damaged self-esteem, and depression. Our therapy teams bring them unconditional acceptance, and the physiological changes that occur in the presence of calm, loving animals help them feel more sociable, more verbal, and more able to do the hard work of recovery.
Adults with mental illness, PTSD, or battling substance use disorders may struggle with anxiety, damaged self-esteem, and depression. Our therapy teams bring them unconditional acceptance, and the physiological changes that occur in the presence of calm, loving animals help them feel more sociable, more verbal, and more able to do the hard work of recovery.
Adolescent and Children’s Mental Health
Children and adolescent experience mental illness, and often a lack of trust in adults as well. Therapy animals can assist in the establishment of rapport with therapists, help teach important coping skills, and provide safe and loving touch. Their handlers are important models in listening, caring, and support of their animal partners.
Children and adolescent experience mental illness, and often a lack of trust in adults as well. Therapy animals can assist in the establishment of rapport with therapists, help teach important coping skills, and provide safe and loving touch. Their handlers are important models in listening, caring, and support of their animal partners.
Shelters
Men, women, and children who are displaced and in shelters because of homelessness or violence need a reminder of how uniquely important they are. Our therapy animal teams come to visit and bring back a sense of normalcy and respect, some smiles and laughter to people who might not have a lot to smile about in their daily lives.
Men, women, and children who are displaced and in shelters because of homelessness or violence need a reminder of how uniquely important they are. Our therapy animal teams come to visit and bring back a sense of normalcy and respect, some smiles and laughter to people who might not have a lot to smile about in their daily lives.
Services for People with Disabilities
Our therapy animal teams help to reduce the anxiety of people with disabilities and provide mental and sensory stimulation, as well as concrete examples of successful emotional regulation. People who don’t often get a chance to be on the giving end of caring get a chance to nurture the animals in a variety of satisfying ways.
Our therapy animal teams help to reduce the anxiety of people with disabilities and provide mental and sensory stimulation, as well as concrete examples of successful emotional regulation. People who don’t often get a chance to be on the giving end of caring get a chance to nurture the animals in a variety of satisfying ways.
Correctional Facilities
People who are in prison or detention facilities can benefit from the acceptance and rapport that come with our therapy animal teams. They are often motivated to work with their therapist and our therapy animals to understand their past behaviors. Learning how animals are trained can bring insight into the origin and change of human conduct.
People who are in prison or detention facilities can benefit from the acceptance and rapport that come with our therapy animal teams. They are often motivated to work with their therapist and our therapy animals to understand their past behaviors. Learning how animals are trained can bring insight into the origin and change of human conduct.
Court Programs
Children and adolescents in court situations can begin to relax and tell their stories in the presence of a kind, gentle, well-behaved, and compassionate animal and its human partner. Even in difficult situations of describing abuse, the animal can help the child feel safe enough to talk with the judge.
Children and adolescents in court situations can begin to relax and tell their stories in the presence of a kind, gentle, well-behaved, and compassionate animal and its human partner. Even in difficult situations of describing abuse, the animal can help the child feel safe enough to talk with the judge.
Schools
The relaxing and empowering presence of therapy animal teams help students in regular and special education classrooms in many ways. Research shows that children reading with animals form positive and successful associations with books, and reading levels improve significantly. Our talented handlers collaborate with their animals and classroom teachers to teach a variety of lessons, from academic to social skills.
The relaxing and empowering presence of therapy animal teams help students in regular and special education classrooms in many ways. Research shows that children reading with animals form positive and successful associations with books, and reading levels improve significantly. Our talented handlers collaborate with their animals and classroom teachers to teach a variety of lessons, from academic to social skills.
Libraries
Therapy animal teams in local libraries add to the joyful family experience of reading together. The animals are accepting, non-judgmental, and calming, while the handlers communicate the animal’s interest, questions, and suggestions about the reading materials. Who knew that dogs could be such thoughtful literary fans?
Therapy animal teams in local libraries add to the joyful family experience of reading together. The animals are accepting, non-judgmental, and calming, while the handlers communicate the animal’s interest, questions, and suggestions about the reading materials. Who knew that dogs could be such thoughtful literary fans?
Salt Lake City Airport
Without a doubt, an airport can be a stressful environment. Tired, stressed, or bored travelers with tired, stressed, and bored children are often overjoyed to see our airport therapy dog teams. Some visitors, terrified of flying or traveling for a sad family event, have gratefully written about their calming, reassuring experience with the therapy dogs.
Without a doubt, an airport can be a stressful environment. Tired, stressed, or bored travelers with tired, stressed, and bored children are often overjoyed to see our airport therapy dog teams. Some visitors, terrified of flying or traveling for a sad family event, have gratefully written about their calming, reassuring experience with the therapy dogs.
Universities
The cumulative stress of young adults in universities, learning novel concepts, coping with developing relationships, and preparing for often make-or-break exams, can be almost overwhelming. Our therapy animal stress-relief events are always a hit. During almost every event a handler will report that at least one student sat near the animals for almost an hour, quietly stroking until they stood up, smiling, and obviously more relaxed.
The cumulative stress of young adults in universities, learning novel concepts, coping with developing relationships, and preparing for often make-or-break exams, can be almost overwhelming. Our therapy animal stress-relief events are always a hit. During almost every event a handler will report that at least one student sat near the animals for almost an hour, quietly stroking until they stood up, smiling, and obviously more relaxed.
All Rolled into One
Our skilled and talented therapy teams are accustomed to working with a variety of clients in every setting. Many facilities have veterans; people with vision, hearing, physical, or cognitive disabilities; anxiety; and/or pain. No matter the needs of the people they meet, the animals are unperturbed, accepting, and kind. Their handlers act as their leaders and partners. As a team, they bring comfort, love, hope, and healing.
Our skilled and talented therapy teams are accustomed to working with a variety of clients in every setting. Many facilities have veterans; people with vision, hearing, physical, or cognitive disabilities; anxiety; and/or pain. No matter the needs of the people they meet, the animals are unperturbed, accepting, and kind. Their handlers act as their leaders and partners. As a team, they bring comfort, love, hope, and healing.
