an affiliate of Delta Society®

Pet Partners of Orange County (PPOC) is an informal group of Pet Partners who do visits to various facilities in Orange County, and who help out with Pet Partner Workshops & Evaluations. PPOC members also help new Pet Partners get started doing visits by taking them along on visits first as observers, without their Pet Partner, and later, after they are fully registered with Delta Society, as active Pet Partner teams, doing the visit under the watchful eye of experienced Pet Partners.

Across the country, medical professionals are increasingly aware of the soothing and therapeutic effects animals can have on various patient populations. Clinical studies also show that animals can contribute to human physiological well being, such as reductions in blood pressure and anxiety levels. Patients who are uncomfortable, anxious, and/or lonely can be helped immeasurably by the soothing touch of a calm, warm animal.

Click here to download "Steps To Become a Pet Partner" in PDF format.

Founded in 1977, Delta Society is an international, not-for-profit organization of pet owners, volunteers, therapists, educators, health professionals, veterinarians, and other professionals. Its Mission is to promote animals helping people improve their health, independence and quality of life. Its Goals are to expand public awareness of the positive effects of animals on family health, and human development; to reduce barriers to involvement of animals in everyday life; and to bring animal-assisted activities and therapy to more people.

AAA - Animal Assisted Activities are basically the casual "meet-and-greet” activities that involve pets visiting people - in settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, senior long-term and day-care centers, children's shelters, and even prisons. AAT — Animal Assisted Therapy is a much more structured patient-animal interaction that is aimed at specific goals and objectives, and is directed by a licensed health-care professional. Visiting animal groups, such as Pet Partners of Orange County, provide primarily AAA services to local community facilities.

The Pet Partners Program is just one of several service programs provided by Delta Society in its pursuit of its stated Mission and Goals. A person and his/her animal can register as Pet Partners when the animal has successfully completed a health, skills, and aptitude evaluation, and the person has completed the human volunteer training requirements. Registered Pet Partner Teams (animal and handler) share the physical and emotional benefits of human-animal interactions with people in various settings. A person without an animal may also become a Pet Partner volunteer by fulfilling the same human volunteer requirements, and may go on visits with a registered team.

For more detailed information about Delta Society, please visit their website at:

http://www.deltasociety.org

If you want to join us or are interested in more information you can send an email to: info@petpartnersoforangecounty.org

or call: (949) 614-0204 and leave a message with your email address.

Pet Partners of Orange County
22365 El Toro Rd #240
Lake Forest, CA 92630