Welcome to DPP!
Denver Pet Partners (DPP) is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to advancing the Human-Animal Bond in order to improve the quality of life, benefit human-animal interaction and enhance animal-assisted intervention (AAI) services in Colorado. Founded in 2001, we are inclusive of AAI volunteers, professionals and associated organizations. DPP has over 150 members who embrace DPP’s Mission “To enhance the social, emotional, and physical well-being of children and adults through comforting and supportive interactions with registered therapy animal teams, and to educate the community and inspire others to pursue this form of volunteerism.”
DPP has an outstanding record of achieving the following goals:
- Increasing awareness of the positive health effects of animal-assisted interventions
- Advancing the incorporation of therapeutic AAI that enhances quality of life and recovery of persons and their families
- Fostering communication and support among AAI volunteers, professional practitioners and related associations
- Furthering the study of psychosocial and social effects of AAI through research and continuing education
- Advocating for programs and policies to ensure excellent service delivery of AAI for all recipients
- Promoting liaison activities with other AAI groups and professional Human-Animal Interaction organizations
- Promoting the highest professional standards and ethics in the practice of AAI
DPP is proud of its collaboration on the Pet Partners® Handler Training Course, an internationally-utilized training and assessment program for handler-animal therapy teams, our affiliation with the national Pet Partners organization, and our partnership with other regional non-profits through the Colorado Non-Profit Organization. We have conducted over 70 successful handler training courses and invite you to attend one of our upcoming workshops. We have evaluated over 1,500 therapy teams for their skill and aptitude to deliver safe, effective AAI. We have had the privilege of presenting at and participating in international and national conferences in the past with the American Humane Association, Pet Partners® and IAHAIO.
Our members volunteer/practice in healthcare, child welfare and education, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehab centers, hospice agencies, schools, homeless shelters and other settings. We connect persons interested in AAI with community, national, and international resources. We do this as part of the human-animal bond team. We are as diverse as the clients and communities we serve.
- Denver Pet Partners is not a service dog organization. To learn about service dogs, please click here.
- Denver Pet Partners does not provide teams on an “on call” basis for visiting private homes or for individual visits to non-registered facilities.
- If you would like to begin a visiting animal program at your facility, please start by contacting our national Pet Partners affiliate organization. Visit this page on the national Pet Partners website for more details.
- If you are interested in learning how to become a Pet Partners team, please visit this page.
- DPP members and students may contact our local office at info@denverpetpartners.org.
Downloadable Information:
DPP Tri-fold Marketing Brochure (PDF format)
AAI Brochure (PDF format)
DPP Overview (PDF format)