Today we’d like to introduce you to Melany Hillstead
Hi Melany, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Our mission at Utah Pet Partners is “Improving human health and well-being in partnership with therapy animals”.
We have teams that visit people throughout most of Utah. We visit at education facilities, hospitals, courts, senior citizens and disabled persons facilities, along with libraries and do some workplace visits. We are not just one person but a group of dedicated people trying to bring happiness and releave stress for others with the help of animals.
We are always looking for people to become volunteers with their calm, well behave and loving animals. They must have basic obedience skills and cannot, jump, bite or become aggressive around people or other animals. They must stay with their handler at all times and love visiting with people.
Pet Partners registers 9 different animals, dogs, cats, rabbits, parrots, rats, guinea pigs, horses, llamas and pigs. Utah Pet Partners currently has dogs, cats and horses that are registered Therapy Animals or are in the process of becoming Therapy Animals.
Do you desire to help children develop confidence and a love for reading? Or do you long to provide furry comfort and love to a hospital patient or a lonely senior? Or have you recognized how well your pet relieves your stress and you’d like to share that benefit with others in a workplace or school? Or do you want to share the strong human-animal bond that you experience with your pet?
These are just a few of the reasons that people volunteer with therapy animals. Once they start volunteering, many continue to volunteer for as long as possible because it is so rewarding to see the comfort, love, hope, and healing that our non-judgmental therapy animals provide. Therapy animals are often able to touch hearts and provide acceptance and motivation that surpasses what humans alone can.
Although more than 90% of therapy animals are dogs, social cats and as mentioned above a variety of other species can become therapy animals!
Melany Hillstead (handler since 2018), Executive Director since May of 2023
I retired from the medical field in 2023, and Utah Pet Partners had not had an Executive Director for about a year, so I decided to apply for the position. It has been a big learning curve for the job, but it is getting better every day.
I joined this organization because of the wonderful work that they do. Sharing their well-trained, people loving animals with others when they are stressed to allow them to forget about their problems for a little while. I hope to help them continue the wonderful work they do. I am honored to be associated with these amazing volunteers who share their animals and their hearts with others.
My husband and I have been visiting with our 2 dogs (Greyhound mixes) Barnum and Bailey since 2018. This year I evaluated with my cat and Grizabella, and I have also been visiting with her occasionally at a local hospital and senior daycare.
Debbie Carr (handler for over 30 years), Executive Director from 2009 to 2022.
Debbie was a handler with many animals over 30 years with Therapy Animals after a while the organization needed an Executive Director, and she reluctantly agreed to take over the stewardship of the organization she loves. She took the bull by the horns and increased the teams over the years. When Covid hit and we had to stop visiting in person and she organized virtual and window visits. During this time many of the teams either decided to stop visiting with their animals or the animal had passed away, so she was in the process of building the team numbers back up until she retired in 2022. She currently visits with her Sheltie Henry and her Sphinx cat Tiana at a senior’s facility and many special events.
My name is Deborah Carr. I am a Pet Partners volunteer handler, Instructor, Team Evaluator. and their retired Executive Director I have volunteered with 7 Shetland Sheepdogs (shelties) over the years, one golden retriever, and two cats. I currently visit with Henry, a sheltie, and Tiana, a Sphynx cat.
In 1989 I was teaching in a Pre-K Special Ed class in Provo when the vision therapist brought in Hero, a border collie mix, to help her with the children. They would do anything for that dog! I thought, “I gotta get me one of those!”
I was doing obedience competition at the time with my golden retriever, but he was too big for my students. My obedience coach had an obedience trial champion sheltie, and she gave me pick of his next litter. So, in 1990 I got my first therapy dog, Luke.
That was the same year Pet Partners began its visiting animal program, but the training hadn’t made it to Utah yet, so with only my nurse’s training, special education degree, and dog training experience I muddled through, making lots of mistakes and learning lots along the way.
I loved the possibilities of working with the children with a dog. What a motivator he was! Every lesson was interesting when Luke was part of it! I’ll always remember taking four developmentally delayed toddlers for a walk, each holding a leash attached to Luke’s harness, parents smiling as they trailed behind each little one on an adventure down the hall.
I also loved volunteering after school at a local nursing home. One of my clients was the former director of nursing of the facility, now on the receiving end of care for dementia. She would tell me over and over again about how her father brought her two puppies in the pockets of his coat when she was just a little girl. I remember well the day I was contacted by the staff at the facility to tell me that my client (now an old friend) had entered the stages of dying and was “probably not responsive anymore.” Luke and I went to visit anyway, and I carefully placed him on her bed beside her. To our surprise, she opened her blue eyes, looked into his kind brown eyes, and began whispering to him. It was my first experience of the deep compassion of therapy dogs and the profound comfort they can bring to people.
In that same nursing home at another time, there was a group of older women in the memory care unit, and the staff asked us to visit them together because they were just not getting along with each other. I brought in my little female sheltie, Cassi, and together we proceeded to groom her carefully: brushing her beautiful golden and white fur, combing it through till it shone, and even painting her toenails with children’s peel-off nail polish. The staff told me that the residents talked about the experience for days! That was my initiation into the social benefits of therapy animal visits.
I enjoy visiting in elder care facilities because the people are so interesting and have so much to share about their life stories. One of my clients told me fascinating stories about her early life as a trick rider in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show. She was such a charming character, and her early life was such a contrast to her condition at the time, bed bound and surrounded by pillows. I was able to arrange for another therapy animal handler with a miniature horse to come to visit. The mini-mare had a very young foal that the facility staff allowed to follow her into the resident’s room. The mare was 100% professional as she approached the bed, and my client was laughing with delight at seeing a horse again However, the foal had other plans and proceeded right up to the resident and started chewing on her blankets. We all laughed until we cried.
I had learned so much about the emotional and social benefits of therapy animal visits, and I saw several times the physical benefits occurring right before my eyes. On one visit the therapist took me to visit a person sitting in a wheelchair with severe tremors in her hands. I was visiting with Shen, my Sphynx cat. I placed him on her lap, and in moments, she was stroking him gently, with no evidence of tremor. The therapist and I were both stunned to see such a change in her condition during the visit.
Some of the changes I saw took place over a longer period of time. We visited the counseling center of the University of Utah during final exam week many times. One staff member came to sit with us and confided that she was terrified of dogs. This was the first time she was able to come so close to one. As our therapy dogs relaxed on the floor with the students, the staff member watched, and confided in me how difficult it was to be so afraid of dogs: she had to plan her every move outside of her home to avoid becoming close to a dog in public. Over the months, the staff member would come to our every visit, getting closer and closer, eventually touching the dogs, and finally, actually giving them treats out of her hand. Our special therapy dogs had helped to free her from her fear.
A final client I’ll never forget was a young man who used a motorized wheelchair. He was paralyzed below the waist and had lost the use of his right hand. He struggled to talk, but was extremely friendly, remembered everyone’s name, and proudly wore the colors of the University of Utah. My cat Shen was his favorite therapy animal. Shen was a hairless cat, and he loved this young man. He especially loved to rub his face on the young man’s beard. When we visited, I’d support Shen near the man’s shoulder and we’d both laugh as the cat rubbed his beard, knocked off his sunglasses, and bumped off his U of U baseball cap. In a care facility where human touch is strictly regulated, that naked cat showed the young man he was a highly valued human being with his exuberant cuddling.
I love joining animals in therapy work. I love being able to see little miracles happen every time I go in to visit with a dog or cat (or horse). I love the smiles on people’s faces, and the enjoyment of my beloved pets when they interact with them. I will keep on visiting as long as my animals and I are physically able, and then, Karma being what it is, when I’m in a facility, I know someone will bring me a dog.
Debbie Carr
Who We Are
Utah Pet Partners (formerly Therapy Animals of Utah) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that is dedicated to improving human health and well-being in partnership with therapy animals. We are the Utah Community Partner of Pet Partners, our national organization.
Not All Therapy Animal Registries are the Same
When our organization first began in 1993 under the name The Good Shepherd Association, we looked at several therapy animal registries. We were seeking a registry that provided:
• professional handler training,
• careful assessment and testing of teams, and
• a commitment to animal welfare.
Pet Partners (then known as Delta Society), a group of enthusiastic medical and veterinary researchers in the field of the human-animal bond, had just formed their Pet Partners visiting animal program and were already well-known for meeting our criteria. We chose to become an affiliate, and later a Community Partner, of this prestigious organization.
In 1996, the group published the first book of Standards of Practice for Animal-Assisted Activities and Animal-Assisted Therapy, which continues to be an international reference to this day.
In 2017, Pet Partners published Standards for General Therapy Animal Programs, in alignment with evidence-based guidelines published by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), the International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations (IAHAIO), the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC), and the America Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
Standards for General Therapy Animal Programs
Therapy animals enhance human health and well-being
Therapy animals can positively impact our physical, social, and emotional lives. Whether helping to encourage struggling readers, motivating someone to participate in their treatment protocol, or providing comfort in the final days of life, therapy animals are increasingly recognized for their value. Leaders in animal-assisted interventions (AAI) must be committed to preserving and expanding access to therapy animals through high standards for safety and professionalism. Therapy animal visitation is not about novelty or entertainment.
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, Shriner’s 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
Amazing stories from handlers:
Patty and Zeze (see picture)
Zeze at 4 Healing Center with a client. Part of the client’s session was to draw an outline of Zeze on paper and then the therapist drew an outline of the client. Then the therapist talked about the client’s strengths and Zeze’s strengths. The client then wrote in Zeze’s strengths on Zeze’s paper outline and her own strengths on her own paper outline. It was an amazing time for the client to give Zeze so many positive “labels” and then give herself those same positive labels on her outline.
Megan and Rumble
After one of our “Read With Me” visits with Rumble I was talking to some of the teachers. While we chatted one student came up to Rumble and I and asked if he could just sit and pet Rumble for a minute. He stroked Rumbles fur and buried his face into his side, so I asked him if something was wrong. He told me that his grandfather had recently passed away and he was very sad about the loss. I think he needed the extra time with Rumble, we spent a few minutes talking about his grandpa and about loss before Rumble and I had to go. I’m glad we could be there for him.
Alese and Buddy (mini-horse)(see picture)
Here is my little story:
“The look on their faces, the hands on his mane, have spoken louder than all the words ever could…Buddy and I’s time with patients, staff and volunteers in healthcare settings have an enormously POSITIVE IMPACT! We watch as their grief, sadness and pain seem to melt away as they look into Buddy’s large, brown eyes and stroke his soft coat and mane. With a grounding energy that resonates a message of “I see you, and all the pain—but you can let that go for a moment and be here with me… rest a while”. When Buddy and I visit we like to share moments that can help be a bridge between turmoil and peace for all.
Lori and Gem (see picture)
Gem spreads joy wherever she goes, ensuring every room and open door is filled with her loving presence. As we walked through the assisted living unit, she spotted her friends playing cards and eagerly joined in, sharing love and laughter. A new resident, overcome with emotion, found solace in Gem’s comforting embrace, and her sorrow was replaced with a beaming smile.
Gem’s journey began on the assisted living side, where she joined a couple of games, sparking new friendships. She then transitioned to the memory care unit, forming more connections with residents and staff. As she left, passing through the assisted living area, Gem noticed a pillow-making activity and approached a lady in the corner. Gem introduced herself and listened to heartwarming stories of her dog.
Although the visit was short due to a bus trip for some residents, Gem’s time with the remaining residents was deeply meaningful, especially with one resident who seldom ventures out of his room, with whom she established a remarkable, instant connection.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being a very small non-profit organization is always hard to find enough money to cover the staff and costs associated with planning and setting up the visits and the evaluations that test the teams before they can visit as a Utah Pet Partners Therapy team.
Also getting the information out about what we do to people with amazing dogs has been another challenge. So many times, people say “I did not know that I could do this with my animal.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Our volunteers personally handle the expenses for the handler’s course, registration, evaluation fees, travel to visits, and any grooming costs because they are incredible individuals who understand the significant impact their animals can have in assisting others daily.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
We hope this organization and others like it continue for many years because of how it helps others.
Pricing:
- Handlers Course $80
- Registration $99 at a UPP member $50
- Evaluation fee $30 ever 2 years
- UPP membership fee $35
- Optional Training Class Practicum $45 (free to members)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://UtahPetPartners.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/utahpetpartners/
- Facebook: Utah Pet Partners (formerly Therapy Animals Utah) https://www.facebook.com/utahpetpartners/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAr4-5N1H7ens2n10V3-eHw/playlists
