Pet Partners, a nonprofit organization based out of Washington, is holding the world’s largest Pet Walk on Saturday, Sept. 26, a special time dedicated to getting out and about with your furry friends.
“Since September was declared national health month, Pet Partners decided to hold the Pet Walk event to encourage people to get out and exercise with their pets,” said Tammy Bobo, co-chair of Pet Partners of North Florida.
Bobo said last year’s North Florida event was held at the Orange Park mall, but this year it will take place anywhere and everywhere to maintain proper social distancing.
“On Sept. 26, we are encouraging people to get out for a walk with their pets,” Bobo said, adding that the Pet Walk event is a great way for individuals to reconnect, get outside and spend time with their pets.
In addition to the Pet Walk, Pet Partners offers an abundance of opportunities with therapy pets and assisted animal activities. Pet Partners helps to train handlers and their pets so that they can give back to the community by visiting hospitals, schools and businesses to provide special pet visits to individuals in need.
With the Pet Walk event, Pet Partners is encouraging donations through its website to help expand its organization and train handlers, who, like Pet Partners employees, are volunteers.
“No one gets paid for this,” Bobo said. “We truly do this because we love it,”
Bobo said the joy of helping others through pet therapy is extremely rewarding for those involved with Pet Partners.
Pet Partners of North Florida works with a variety of pets — nine species to be exact — including dogs, cats, rabbits, horses and more. The nonprofit has visited a number of local places like Mayo Clinic and Nemours to bring smiles to people’s faces during hard times.
For more information regarding the Pet Walk event or about Pet Partners in general, go to www.petpartnersnf.org.
