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Our
Roots
Over the course of several years Brad Jackson noticed the
positive effects his chocolate Labrador, Boomer, had on friends
and family. Smiles, excitement and fun were the norm.
When Brad finished physical therapy school, it was only natural
to give Boomer a chance to work with patients at the local
hospital where he was employed. Boomer’s tail wagging
therapy was a big success.
Upon moving to Marquette, Michigan in 1996 Brad decided a
community organization was needed to foster the interaction
of dogs in community health care settings, so people could
benefit from the unconditional love only a dog can give.
About Us
The Upper Michigan Dog Therapy Partnership is a nonprofit
organization based in Marquette, Michigan.
The partnership is a community benefit of Marquette General
Healthcare System. With their happy tails wagging and their
owners smiling, the Upper Michigan Dog Therapy Partnership’s
Pet Partner volunteers are helping patients and residents
of hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living centers feel
better and get better. One of our Pet Partners put it best
when she said, “The opportunity to share the unconditional
love and acceptance that your dog can offer to patients is
an unbelievably satisfying and enjoyable experience”.
Our Pet Partners Assist in Patient
Rehabilitation
Dogs, besides having the special qualities of unconditional
love and acceptance, are fun and intelligent. It is all of
these canine qualities that allow dogs to assist in providing
rehabilitation to patients.
Animal assisted therapy is provided to patients when licensed
dogs and their owners known together as Pet Partners work
with patients and therapists to attain specific rehab goals.
Retrieving a bouncing ball thrown by a patient working on
their balance in physical therapy
is all in a days work for a Pet Partner dog.
Our Pet Partners Also Visit Patients for Fun
Sometimes it’s more fun for a patient to be with a dog
for pure enjoyment, without the demands of therapy.
Animal assisted activity is provided to patients when Pet
Partners interact with them purely for enjoyment. Receiving
the unconditional Love from a friendly Pet Partner’s
dog is sometimes the best therapy of all!
Operating
Room staff with Arlo
on Halloween
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Ed and
Penny Anderson, Pet Partners, and Arlo
Darlene McElhaney, Pet Partner
with KC and Chloe
Zac and Megan
Saydee
Amos, the bloodhound
and Megan
The Late
Boomer-CoFounder
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