Denver Pet Partners does not train animals. We educate the human end of the leash (the Handler) as an animal-assisted intervention (AAI) volunteer for facilities and events in the Denver area.
Pet Partners® “Volunteering with Your Pet” Course
This is a free informational session that will introduce you to the Pet Partners therapy animal program. You will learn about the work therapy animals and handlers do, the requirements to be a registered handler/animal team, and the process of becoming registered. This class is designed for those who are interested in becoming therapy animal handlers.
This course is being offered on the following date(s) (via Zoom):
- Saturday June 13, 2026 (10 a.m. – noon)
Please send an email to registrations@denverpetpartners.org if you are interested in attending!
Pet Partners® Therapy Animal Handler Course
This required course is available online and provides information and training that will prepare you to volunteer effectively with your animal as a Pet Partners therapy animal team in a variety of environments. You must complete and pass the online handler training course before attending your team evaluation. There is a fee for this course.
- If you are interested in taking the Therapy Animal Handler Online Course on the Pet Partners site, please go to this page.
Pet Partners® “Handling Skills for Safe Visits” Course
Do you want to improve your chances of being successful at your team evaluation?
Pet Partners certified instructors will be offering an online Zoom mini-workshop “Handling Skills for Safe Visits”. This class was created by Pet Partners and designed to fine-tune handling skills for experienced teams and new teams preparing for their Team Evaluation. The evaluators assess not only the behavior of the animal but also how the handler supports and interprets the body language of the animal. Attend and learn what skills are necessary for success.
Information regarding visiting populations with disabilities will also be shared through discussion of real-life visit scenarios. Leading this class will be experienced handlers/instructors Rika Mead and Stacy Mercord. Sign up now by sending an email to registrations@denverpetpartners.org!
This course will be held on the following date:
- Date to be determined
COST: Free
Pet Partners® Team Evaluations
Pet Partners Team Evaluations will be held on the following date(s):
- Sunday, July 26, 2026 at AdventHealth, Castle Rock (8:30 am – 5:00 pm) (Note: EVALUATIONS ARE CURRENTLY FULL. IF YOU REGISTER AND PAY AT THIS TIME, we will add you to the waitlist for July 26th and will contact you should we get a cancellation. If we do not receive a cancellation, we will move you to the October 8th Evaluations at Castle Rock Adventist Hospital. If October 8th does not work for you, we can refund the fee and cancel your registration.)
Click this line to register for an evaluation