Anna & Esther: A Pet Therapy Team in the Making

Preparing for Real Visits with Confidence and Compassion

This week’s lesson, Unit 7: Putting It All Together, marks a turning point in our journey. After learning the foundations of animal-assisted therapy, infection control, and teamwork with facilities, this unit helps us envision what an actual visit will look like, from the moment we pack our bags to the time we leave the facility.

For Esther and me, this feels like the moment where training meets heart. Everything we’ve practiced, gentle greetings, reading body language, infection control, and respectful communication, now comes together as we prepare to step into real-world settings, such as hospices and nursing homes.

🧺 What to Bring on a Visit

Pet Partners reminds handlers to think ahead and come prepared. That means bringing all the essentials for safety, comfort, and connection.

Our visit bag checklist:

• Fresh water and a clean bowl

• Treats (only if permitted by the facility)

• Soft grooming brush

• Waste bags and wipes

• Hand sanitizer

• Esther’s trading cards to help spark conversation

• A special toy that’s used only during visits

• Clean collar, harness, and leash

• Closed-toe shoes and professional, neat attire

Being prepared isn’t just about organization; it’s about respect. Every clean leash, every sanitized hand, every calm greeting helps create trust and comfort for the people we meet.

🐾The Visit Snapshot

In a Pet Partners example story, Kate and Sebastian (a mini horse therapy team) complete their first visit to a retirement home. Their day begins with a quiet check-in with staff, a quick review of who they’ll be seeing, and a gentle entrance into the first resident’s room.

Each small moment in their visit, from offering sanitizer to reading residents’ cues and knowing when to step back, models the mindfulness and professionalism that therapy teams bring to every encounter.

Esther and I practice the same skills during our mock visits. Before we enter the room, I check in with her. If her tail loosens and her breathing is calm, she’s ready. If she leans into me or looks away, I know to pause. These tiny check-ins are what make our partnership strong.

Calm, Clean, and Compassionate

A significant part of this unit focuses on infection control and professionalism, two key aspects that demonstrate respect for the people we visit. Handwashing before and after contact, avoiding shared bedding, and keeping our equipment clean aren’t just rules; they’re acts of care.

Each visit is an opportunity to bring comfort, safety, calmness, and compassion. That’s the heart of therapy work: meeting people where they are, with empathy and presence.

Looking Ahead

As we are near the end of the Handler Course, I can feel how much we’ve both grown. Esther’s confidence and calm presence are deepening with each mock visit, and I’m learning to slow down, observe, and truly listen, both to her and to those we’ll one day serve.

We’re almost ready to take the next step: the evaluation that will mark our transition from training to service.

It’s exciting, a little nerve-wracking, and significant, because this isn’t just a certification. It’s the beginning of the work we were meant to do together.