Pet Partners Second Annual Gala a Success

Portland, September 15th. Pet Partners (formerly Delta Society) hosted its second fall fundraising gala, One Bond One World: Celebrating 35 Years of Delta Society & Pet Partners.  Honorary Event Chairs Dr. Robert and Kate Franklin, Pet Partners’ CEO Stephen Browning, Event Chair Lynda Iverson and award honoree Katharine Harding with Cavadoodles Karisto and Philia enjoyed the party. The pet-friendly event was attended by approximately 150 guests, including many registered therapy dogs and other well-behaved pets, and funds raised nearly tripled those raised at last year’s gala.

On hand were past and present Pet Partners board members, co-founder Dr. Bill McCulloch and emcees David Frei, television host of the Westminster Dog Show, Kim Singer and Larry Shoop.  Longtime volunteer and supporter Katharine Harding was presented with the first “Delta Spirit of Caring Award,” which will be awarded annually to honor a person, group, company or organization that exemplifies Pet Partners’ mission to promote and demonstrate that positive human-animal interactions improve people’s physical, psychological and emotional health.

 

The elegant evening of dining, dancing, silent and live auctions, and mingling with others who support Pet Partners’ dedication to the human–animal bond was enjoyed by all the guests.

 

From Pet Partners

Pet Partners, established in Portland as Delta Society in 1977, is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to demonstrating and promotion that positive interactions with animals improve people’s physical, psychological and emotional health. The organization’s Therapy Animal Program trains and evaluates volunteer therapy animal teams, its Service Animal Program provides information and resources for people with disabilities who are considering getting a service dog or who are currently partnered with a service dog, and its Companion Animal Program educates individuals and families on the ways companion animals can improve health and well-being in everyday life. Each year, Pet Partners’ 11,000 therapy animal teams visit more than 1 million people across the United States and in 14 other countries. For more information, visit www.petpartners.org.