Anna & Esther: A Pet Therapy Team in the Making

I’m thrilled to share a significant milestone on this journey with Esther:

I have officially completed the Pet Partners Handler Training!

This course has given me the knowledge, confidence, and foundation to partner safely and compassionately with Esther, my beloved Saint Bernard, during future therapy visits.

As I complete my master’s degree in Thanatology/Community Health this semester, this certification aligns beautifully with the supportive work I hope to do in the near future. After I finish this degree, I will be continuing my education and beginning my MSW, with long-term goals of offering grief and bereavement therapy to families and individuals. My hope is to integrate pet therapy services into that work, bringing together my professional training, my lived experiences, and Esther’s gentle, comforting presence.

My Official Certificate

What the Training Covered

This certificate reflects completion of the full Pet Partners coursework:

• Training for Therapy Dog Teams
• Therapy Animal Handler Online Course
• Canine Body Language
• Infection Prevention and Control

Each section strengthened my understanding of handler responsibilities, from infection control to recognizing subtle signs of stress in dogs to navigating sensitive environments with professionalism and care.

Why This Matters for Our Future Visits

Therapy animal visits can offer grounding, comfort, and connection for people navigating illness, isolation, grief, or emotional stress. This training emphasized how to:

• Support clients with respect and sensitivity
• Advocate for Esther’s wellbeing and comfort
• Follow facility protocols and infection control guidelines
• Work collaboratively with staff
• Create safe, calm, meaningful interactions

These principles strongly complement the work I plan to do along my academic and professional path in thanatology and social work.

Next Step: Esther’s Medical Evaluation 🩺

Now that I’ve completed the handler portion, Esther will undergo her veterinary health screening. Pet Partners requires therapy animals to be:

• Healthy and up-to-date on vaccinations
• Emotionally steady
• Behaviorally appropriate in various environments

She has also been practicing important skills like:

• “Leave It”
• “Visit”
• “Head Down”
• Remaining calm around wheelchairs, walkers, and medical equipment

Esther will continue her professional training all the way up to evaluation day to make sure she feels confident, safe, and ready for her future as a therapy dog.

I’m so proud of how far my giant fur daughter has come.

Moving Forward

Completing the Pet Partners Handler Training is one more step toward the future I’m building; a future where I can combine my academic training, my commitment to grief and bereavement support, and the healing presence that Esther brings.

Healing with Anna and Esther continues to grow with every milestone. I look forward to sharing more updates as we prepare for Esther’s medical evaluation and progress toward becoming a registered therapy team.

Thank you for walking this journey with Esther and me🐾