Pet Partners, a nonprofit organization that registers therapy animals for animal-assisted interventions, announced its fifth annual World’s Largest Pet Walk. Presented by Wellness Pet Company, it takes place Saturday, Sept. 24. Pet Partners hopes to raise $100,000 for the organization to increase community impact through therapy animal visitation.
Those choosing to participate can walk at any time and location on event day. Whether participants gather with friends and family to walk, lead a group walk in their community, or take a quiet hike with their pet, all are welcome to take part in the event.
“Pets are not only good for our emotional wellbeing but they can also be beneficial to our physical health as well, and this walk proves just that,” says president and CEO of Pet Partners C. Annie Peters. “Walking with your pet can have positive outcomes for both the pet and the pet parent, so participating in this event is a win-win.”
This year, the organization will honor a very special Walk Champion: Carolyn Marr. Marr was a member of community partner, Pet Partners of Greater Dallas. She believed in the healing benefits of animals and dedicated her life to the cause, passionately serving as a handler, team evaluator, and volunteer instructor for Pet Partners. During her years of volunteer service, Marr and her registered therapy animals visited thousands of people in need. An avid supporter of the event and of Pet Partners for many years, she passed away last year. Pet Partners has announced all participating in the event will walk in her honor.
According to Pet Partners, the walk is an opportunity to engage employees and build corporate support. In addition to Wellness Pet Company, the event is also welcoming back sponsors and walk teams from Blue Shield of California, which will be supporting the event for a third consecutive year, and Dog Is Good for Good, supporting for the second year in a row.
Those interested can visit petpartners.org/wlpw to learn more, sign up, and create an online fundraising page. Funds raised through the World’s Largest Pet Walk support Pet Partners’ Therapy Animal Program, which supports visiting therapy animal teams that bring comfort and joy to members of the public, typically in facility settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, schools, libraries, airports, and at workplace wellbeing events.
