Taco

Entrant's First Name
Sam

I am a Therapy Animal

Tell us a story about how pet therapy touched your life.
When Taco and I became a Pet Partners registered therapy team I never imagined the impact we would make on others and the doors it would open up for us. He has connected me to the most wonderful people that have helped develop my passion for animal-assisted activities and animal-assisted therapy by enhancing my higher education, professional development, and community outreach. Taco and I have even worked together to educate graduate level mental health counseling students about the animal-assisted activities and animal-assisted therapy field. He has touched the lives of people in ways I never expected. His whole miniature body and big personality makes him the poster child for the meaning of “affiliative.”

Give us an example of a special interaction between your therapy animal and the person they were visiting.
I’ll never forget one of the very first outings my sister and I took Taco to for visiting practice at a store front. Jaws dropped, smiles and laughter filled the store, and cameras flashed. And Taco was Taco, eating up all of the attention! When we walked around the store and explored, we passed by two young boys that were patiently waiting for their parents to finish shopping. Taco planted his feet and leaned into the boys for a pet. One of the boys asked “why on Earth would you bring a horse into a store?!” I explained to them that he was in training to become a therapy horse so he could visit children that were sick, visit people who were lonely, and to help teach others about therapy animals. He replied with, “Wow! Those people would probably think that it’s the best day of their life!.... like me today!”