JACKSON, Wyo. — Teton County Pet Partners (TCPP) is inviting anyone interested to come observe team evaluations tonight, Oct. 7, for therapy animals in the hopes of encouraging more therapy teams volunteers.
Six people and pet team evaluations will take place at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Hanson Hall starting at 5 p.m. TCPP asks anyone who would like to attend to arrive by 4:55 p.m. The evaluations will wrap up around 7:30 p.m.
TCPP‘s mission is to register and match animal therapy teams to individual and community needs. According to a TCPP press release, watching teams go through exercises is a great way for individuals to decide if the therapy animal program might be right for them and their animals.
“More teams are definitely necessary to help the community.”
Kelly Chadwick, director of TCPP
“The need for teams is great because the demand for services has skyrocketed since Covid,” Kelly Chadwick, director of TCPP, tells Buckrail. “I’m constantly having to try to meet the need. More teams are definitely necessary to help the community.”
While TCPP doesn’t currently have any cats in the program, both cats and dogs are welcome to go through the therapy training with their owners. Chadwick notes that there have been three total cats in the program over the years, and at least once a month TCPP does have a request for cat animal therapy.
TCPP teams visit local spots including the library, Sage Living and the hospital, among providing other anxiety and wellness visits. Chadwick says that in her decade of working with the organization, she’s seen how teams can affect the entire community.
“You see it in every visit that we go on, no matter where we are,” Chadwick says.
While the event tonight is to allow observation of what it takes to become a therapy team with a pet, Chadwick asks all attendees to refrain from bringing their pet to the evaluations. For those leaving early or coming late, TCPP requests visitors to be mindful of staying quiet to not distract the animals or evaluation process.
