Our Instructors and Evaluators

Cris and Maddy (right) and then Cris and Scarlet passed their evaluations to be therapy teams in 2017. Since then, Cris has really enjoyed discovering which settings her girls do best in. From going to different environments, Cris has learned more about recognizing their strengths and what kinds of things they like (and don’t like) to do. Seeing the joy and comfort they bring to so many encouraged Cris to be more involved with DPP and become an evaluator so that we can have even more teams out there doing the great work. Due to the pandemic, Cris was in the first class of Pet Partners Evaluators to take the exam completely virtually. It was challenging and very thorough! Contact Cris.

Linda considers it a privilege to be a volunteer with Denver Pet Partners and is a licensed handler, instructor, and evaluator for Pet Partners.  After registering as a therapy team in 2006 and joining DPP at that time, she volunteered for 9 years at Swedish Medical Center and at Anythink Library with her first 2 therapy dogs, Kenzie and Toby.  In 2010, Linda became an evaluator, and in 2015, an instructor. Currently, she volunteers at Rocky Vista University and Columbine Library with her therapy dogs, Will and Kate. Linda is appreciative that volunteers provided training and evaluations for her and she finds it gratifying to be able to provide those services for others. Contact Linda.

Susan became a member of Denver Pet Partners with her canine partner Lucy in 2009.  They visited in many facilities and with a variety of populations over the next few years, and that inspired Susan to take on additional roles.  She joined the DPP Board of Directors as Director of Programs in 2014 and became a Pet Partners evaluator in 2016. In both roles, she receives enormous satisfaction from helping to advance the impact of Animal-Assisted Interventions by nurturing the growth and knowledge of DPP members who work in countless programs. Contact Susan.

Gretchen and her therapy dog Birdy joined Denver Pet Partners in 2019.  Originally from California, Gretchen retired from teaching and moved to Colorado in 2018 when her husband’s job brought them here.  While in California, Gretchen began fostering service dog candidates for a nonprofit, which led to her learning to train the dogs for service and eventually becoming a certified service dog trainer.  Not too much different than teaching mathematics to junior high school students!

Gretchen has continued to breed, whelp, and raise puppies from Birdy for the California-based service dog organization.  One such puppy was Grace, who also became a Pet Partners registered therapy dog, giving Gretchen mother-daughter therapy dogs.  Gretchen with Grace and Gretchen with Birdy are registered Animal-Assisted Crisis Response (AACR) teams.  Both dogs also assist at team evaluations as neutral dogs.

In 2024 Gretchen become one of Denver Pet Partners’ Program Coordinators, helping people register for evaluations and training classes.  She is excited to serve as a Team Evaluator to help those people become registered teams.

Gretchen is a certified dog trainer and an AKC Good Canine Citizen (CGC, CGCA, CGCU) evaluator.  In addition to training dogs, she enjoys traveling with her husband, spending time with family on both coasts (especially her grandson), and riding her Quarter Horse Holly.

Birdy, Grace, and Holly, along with Gretchen’s three other dogs, three cats, and mini donkey, have an extraordinary gift to remind us what true, pure love and kindness are and that those traits remain forever. Contact Gretchen.

Sandy took the Pet Partners’ Handler Workshop, which was taught by Diana McQuarrie and Ann Rosenwasser, on June 7, 2014 and joined Denver Pet Partners on that day.  Sandy and Greyson, her current therapy dog, passed their first Pet Partners evaluation in September of 2014. They have participated in many of DPP’s special events and visit as much as possible.  Sandy was the Program Coordinator for DPP from 2015 through 2016 and currently serves on the Board of Directors. She became a Pet Partners evaluator in March of 2018. Her greatest joy is to make a difference in someone’s life with Greyson by her side and to serve the members of DPP. Contact Sandy.

Meme and her Standard Poodle, Buddy, passed their first Pet Partners evaluation in March of 2016 and immediately joined Denver Pet Partners.  In April of 2016 they began visiting patients and staff at Castle Rock Adventist Hospital through a new therapy dog program that Linda Tieman and Meme helped start. Along with visiting with Buddy, Meme enjoyed recruiting and training volunteers for the program and making community presentations about volunteering with therapy animals.

When Meme had to stop visiting with Buddy due to his advanced age, she responded to a Denver Pet Partners request for volunteer instructors.  She is impressed with the professionalism with which instructors are trained and prepared for their role.

Meme and Buddy have volunteered at Castle Rock Adventist Hospital and Rocky Vista University and participated in many destress events. She is excited to be able to use her experience, along with the professional Pet Partners training materials, to help prepare others to be therapy animal volunteers.  Contact Meme.

Rika joined DPP in 2015 with her rescue Cairn Terrier, Bindi.  In 2017, her other rescue dog, Baku, passed his evaluation.  Bindi is drawn to work with special needs kids in schools and libraries, while Baku prefers seniors and the welcome laps of new readers.  Rika became a certified instructor in 2018 in order to widen her commitment to this special work and also frequently serves as Team Lead to support other teams on their own therapy paths.  She continues to learn new techniques and skills with each volunteer assignment, which she applies to her own visits and incorporates into DPP workshops.  Rika remains deeply grateful for the opportunities, relationships and growth that DPP consistently provides.

Contact Rika.

Stacy became a Pet Partners team with her dog Sam in 2010.  She has volunteered with him in various facilities and in different parts of the country as well as in Germany on a US Army Base.  She became increasingly interested in AAI work by watching the difference human-animal interactions could make in someone’s day, and decided to study it further.  She has received both the Animals and Human Health certificate and the Canine-Assisted Intervention Specialist certificate from the University of Denver’s Institute for Human-Animal Connection.  In 2018 Stacy became a Pet Partners Instructor to help other teams on their journey. Contact Stacy.

Kelli and her therapy dog, Kiki, joined Denver Pet Partners in November 2023. Originally from Indiana, Kelli moved to Colorado in 2008, bringing a spirit of kindness and community with her. Alongside her supportive husband and two daughters, Kelli balances family life with a fulfilling career as a Registered Nurse Case Manager.

Passionate about helping others, Kelli volunteers with her therapy dog, Kiki, a Golden Mountain Doodle. Kiki loves making new friends and connecting with everyone she meets. Together, they visit Denver Springs Behavioral Health Hospital, Denver International Airport, universities, and other special events providing comfort and joy to those in need. Kelli and Kiki are also a registered Animal-Assisted Crisis Response team, which allows them to provide support to those experiencing crisis from natural disasters or tragic events.

In addition to volunteering, Kelli enjoys traveling with her family, creating lasting memories and exploring new places together. Kelli is dedicated to raising awareness about the benefits of animal-assisted therapy and strives to inspire others to recognize the transformative power of therapy animals. Contact Kelli.

Sue is so honored to be an evaluator for Denver Pet Partners!  She has owned and trained Newfoundlands for obedience, rally, Newfoundland water and draft work, Fast CAT, and other dog sports for thirty years. She is  from Arvada, Colorado.  Bailey and Sue have been a therapy dog team since 2022, and Sue has been a Denver Pet Partners evaluator since 2023.

The teamwork, the connection with your dog, and the healing you can share as a therapy dog and handler team is by far the most amazing job.   Volunteering with her dog at libraries, schools, and other events allows Sue to share the joy Bailey creates with others. Equally rewarding is the time she spends volunteering to help others share that same joy and comfort that is only possible through the eyes of a dog.

Sue is glad to visit with anyone regarding their journey with Pet Partners!  Getting you and your dog to be a great therapy team takes dedication and LOTS of praise, treats, and repetition.  But when that all comes together – and you can share your wonderful dog to make smiles happen – it’s priceless.  Contact Sue.

Ann became a DPP member in 2005 with her first therapy dog Teddy. She became a Pet Partners instructor in 2007 and a team evaluator in 2008. In addition she became a READ instructor in 2016 and is a registered Animal-Assisted Crisis Response handler. She lives in Kansas but has remained an active DPP member. Ann and her current therapy dog Bode volunteer at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, MO in their Physical Therapy Department and evening program with children. Other volunteer activities include women and children’s shelters, school literacy programs, and library programs.

Ann feels inspired by the energy, interest, and eagerness of students who attend the Handler Workshops. She enjoys helping them prepare for their journey in the field of AAI and finds it especially fulfilling when the new teams are successful in their evaluation. Contact Ann.