Prairieland Visiting Animals Association
Topeka, Kansas

Prairieland Member Pet Partner® Teams

Here are just a few of the current and former Pet Partner teams.

	Jules is a Miniature Schnauzer. He passed his test to be a therapy dog shortly after his first birthday in October 1999. His partner, Kathy Schlotterbeck, is a retired kindergarten teacher and Jules spent his early months in her classroom. Because of this early experience, he loves all kinds of people. He got his first therapy job in December 1999. He goes to Stormont Vail Senior Diagnostic Center twice a month. He loves his job and willingly lets anyone make over him.
	River assists her Pet Partner, Rick Riggs, with the seminars and pet manners classes that he and his wife, Perrin, teach for the Helping Hands Humane Society in Topeka.
	Cooper assists his Pet Partner, Perrin Riggs, with the seminars and pet manners classes that she and her husband, Rick, teach for the Helping Hands Humane Society in Topeka.
	Gracie the Standard Poodle and her Pet Partner, Nan Palmer, have recently started visiting at Brewster Place. Nan, a Professor of Social Work at Washburn University, brings a lifelong interest in the benefits of animals soothing the wounded spirit and bringing respite from life's daily challenges. Her 2-1/2 year old teammate is a gentle pet who is particularly sensitive to frail and older adults.
	Jan and her Golden Retrievers, Jackson and Booker, visit a local elementary school by promoting the R.E.A.D® program that strives to improve the literacy skills of children through the assistance of registered Pet Partner® therapy teams as literacy mentors. Jan is an elementary school librarian with a special interest in promoting issues surrounding the human-animal bond. She volunteers her spare time with Happy Training! LLC dog training. She especially enjoys her role in the Prairieland Visiting Animals Association as a Delta Society® Team Evaluator.
	Retirees
	Dottie began socializing with Special Needs Students at the Kansas Neurological Institute in Topeka when she was a 14-week-old puppy, and she and her team mate, Cathy Jaap, completed their Pet Partners certification when Dottie was 14 months old.
	In Memorium
	Jake the Shih Tzu was 12 years old and was a Pet Partner for 9 years. He and owner Marilyn Lind visited ManorCare and the Special Purpose School at Kansas Neurological Institute (KNI) in Topeka.
	Topaz the Golden Retriever and her Pet Partners, Barbara and Glenn Smith, visited folks living in area care facilities until her death in 2006. Her specialty was the Alzheimer's units in nursing homes. She also visited with folks at Kansas Neurological Institute.
	Cookie the Brittany retired in April 1999 at age 11, after 9.5 years as a Pet Partner! His Pet Partner, Jeanene Hoover, is a past President of Prairieland Visiting Animals Association. Cookie was the Kansas Veterinary Medical Association's Pet of the Year for 1995, promoting the value of pet visits to the elderly.
	Abby and her Pet Partner, Penny Chiles, visited the special-needs students Penny works with, and promoted responsible pet ownership and child-animal safety.
	Keely (pictured here with one of the friends she visited), along with her owner, Lee Boyd, made weekly visits to Midland Hospice's Adult Day Program. Lee says that Keely refused to be ignored, and she could get even the quietest people to pet and talk to her.
	Katie started as a Pet Partner with her teammate Judy Briggs in December 1994. They visited Stormont Vail Senior Diagnostic Center and the Adolescent Psychiatric Unit.
	Murphy assisted her Pet Partners, Perrin and Rick Riggs, with the seminars and pet manners classes that Rick and Perrin teach for the Helping Hands Humane Society in Topeka. In the varied roles she played during her 12 years, she touched many hearts and lives.
	Molly the Golden Retriever visited with her Pet Partner, Charlotte Cline, for several years. Molly always enjoyed the attention and doggy treats she received from the residents and employees, and she brought joy to those she visited each week.