C. Annie Peters, president and CEO of Pet Partners—a Bellevue, Wash.-based national therapy animal organization focusing on improving human health and well-being through the human-animal bond—traces her path from once-aspiring engineer (who realized she didn’t really like engineering), venturing into an extended stint in the non-profit world, working at Special Olympics International before landing at the helm of Pet Partners 11 years ago. 
But Peters notes that one thruline across this narrative is her love of animals. So when I
observe that someone might not see a connection between the work of Special Olympics International and one focused on various aspects of therapy animals, she explains in this Pet Partners employment opportunity, she identified three components that spoke to her in a meaningful way. It concentrated on (1) health; (2) volunteers; (3) pets. Peters responds to my query, wondering how she would describe Pet Partners in significant ways—both pluses and minuses—when she arrived there a decade-plus ago, relative to how she would characterize the organization now, very much including the changes and improvements she’s introduced. We broach the important distinction between therapy dogs and service dogs—a confusing difference for many. And I mention that some folks cultivate that confusion by buying a phony therapy-dog vest and putting it on their non-therapy dog—and BOOM!, instant access on airplanes, restaurants, and elsewhere. She says there’s nothing much Pet Partners can do to mitigate that deception, but if the organization learns a Pet Partners team has engaged in any such 
fraudulent behavior, they’re dismissed. For Peters’ part, she emphasizes the Pet Partners’ distinction between therapy dogs and service dogs comes down to this: service dogs
involve a one-to-one relationship with humans, while therapy dogs’ relationship involves one to many. Pet Partners deals strictly in the realm of therapy animals, and among the resources they offer is evaluating potential teams. It’s not uncommon for people to think their warm, gregarious dog could possibly have the makings of a therapy dog who could be helpful by visiting a nearby school or hospital. Peters explained they have evaluators spread across the country who can make that very assessment. Likewise, Pet Partners is equipped to provide training to aspiring therapy animals team, and once that training is successfully completed, that team is insured by Pet Partners, and reflects a top-tier credibility to institutions considering taking on a new team. We touched on a number of other topics, from the sister organization Peters helped create a little over two years ago, the Association of Animal Assisted Intervention Professionals (AAAIP)—geared for an array of individuals (physical therapists, social workers, animal trainers, et al) interested in incorporating therapy animals into their professional work—to the range of animals Pet Partners recognizes as therapy animals, beyond dogs, including cats, horses, rabbits, and llamas. (https://petpartners.org/, https://www.aaaiponline.org/)
ALSO: I spoke with Devon Francke, Education Program Coordinator at Keep Pinellas Beautiful, who was slated to deliver a talk entitled “Sea Turtle Nesting, Conservation, and You!,” on June 26th at Moccasin Lake Park in Clearwater. Francke first provided a brief overview of Keep Pinellas Beautiful, and what his responsibilities—as one of the organization’s two Education Program Coordinators—typically entail. A then-looming example was the lecture about sea turtles Francke would be presenting the next day. He was kind enough to share a sneak preview of that lecture, including noting an important motto for protecting nesting sea turtles and their babies is “Clean, Dark, Flat”—meaning leave the beach free of trash and other debris…avoid using flashlights or other sources of light at night that could confuse the turtles’ navigational efforts… at the end of the beach day, remove any beach chairs or other equipment—potential obstacles for moving turtles—and, for similar reasons, knock down and level out sandcastles, and fill in any holes that were dug. (https://www.kpbcares.org/education)
COMEDY CORNER: Eddie Pepitone’s “Dog Therapy” (https://www.eddiepepitone.com)
MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: The Neville Brothers’ version of “Fly Like An Eagle”
AUDIO ARCHIVE:
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