“… Our community receives Pets on Wheels visits 2-3 times a week with about 40% of our residents’ receiving visits. For many, this is the highlight of their day. On numerous occasions I have witnessed that when a resident is not feeling well, the expression of pain between their brow has diminished after a pet visit. A friendly visit is the best medicine of all.”

“Our residents absolutely love our visitors from Pets on Wheels!  Faces light up and hands are outstretched when they see their four-legged friends coming down the hall!”

“…Knocking and entering a room to watch a patient’s face light up at the sight of your dog, is something very special…  … their faces light up and they immediately get down on the floor to nuzzle with Ted Lasso (and revel at his name). I’m just at the end of the leash at this point! It’s a joy to share my loving dog with the community.

“Participating in Pets on Wheels for over 20 years now has been a very rewarding experience. Just to bring a little joy, smile, or laughter to someone’s day as well as to my pet and myself never gets old! I love sharing the love of my pet with others.”

“Going to Sante North is such a wonderful experience. When I walk into a room and ask a patient if they would like a visit from Gus, seeing their face light up with a big smile just fills my heart with joy, and of course, Gus loves all the attention!!”

“My Golden Labradoodle. Teddy, and I volunteer at the Vi at Grayhawk.  It is always an amazing and fulfilling experience each week to witness the joy and the smiles on the patients’ faces when they see us.   They look forward to our visits and we look forward to going each week.”

“It’s a privilege to bring joy to hospitalized patients, family members and staff in a very stressful and often sad setting. As the Swedish proverb says: “Shared joy is double joy; shared sorrow is half sorrow.”

“I am a long-time Pets on Wheels volunteer. When I visit at a long-term care facility, I engage with the residents to learn something about the life they have led. They are remarkable people.”  …

“I have volunteered with Pets on Wheels since 2008. I became interested in volunteering after my parents moved to Assisted Living in their home state. They had given up their pet when they moved, and I saw how much they enjoyed seeing dogs come to visit at their facility. I wanted to be able to make that difference where I live. It’s not an exaggeration to say that we can make a resident’s day simply by dropping by and saying “Would you like to pet my dog?””

“Roxy and I get so much pleasure from visiting PV Brookdale each week.  The happiness and smiles she brings to all the residents in assisted living and memory care is contagious.   We always leave there feeling we were able to brighten their day with her tricks and bottom wiggle.”

“Seeing a smile on a resident’s face when we arrive is always nice.  But to have a staff member in a memory care unit ask to video Dexter with a resident to show family members that she still shows true joy was priceless.  I feel that I am the lucky one to be able to observe…even from a short distance.”

“One of my favorite therapy visits with my dog Abby, a Schnauzer Mix, is “Sky Kids” at Scottsdale Airport. To see the excitement of a child’s face (and their families), before and after getting on an airplane for the very first time in their lives, is priceless.  This visit has touched my heart forever!”

“Being at the end of a therapy dog’s leash is truly one of the greatest honors of my life! Mano and I love visiting with the residents at Friendship Village Health Care Center.  The time we spend with the residents is a weekly gift to our lives!”

““Pets On Wheels has been such a great activity for our residents. The joy, comfort & smiles that a simple Pet visit brings them is wonderful to witness & everyone looks forward to seeing our furry friends every week!”

“I am very fortunate to have two therapy dogs, Mini Australian Shepards, with different skill sets for therapy work.  Lexi, our youngest, is the reason we got into therapy work as she was so gentle even as a puppy.  Lexi loves the elderly and wins everyone over with her pretty blue eyes and wiggling butt.  Becca is much better with kids and adults and loves the library reading program and destress medical students.  She is a flirt with her belly rubs and smiles.   POW has been a lot of fun for all of us.”

“My experiences over the years have been heart wrenching to heartwarming and each has made an forgettable impact on me and my dogs: from visiting Col. Thomas Schaefer at Sante North and learning about him landing an Airforce jet on US soil after his 444 days of captivity by the Iranians, to sitting in the lap of a wheelchair-bound blind DMD 12 year old’s lap at Cocopah Middle School as his hands caress my dog’s face and he says, “She’s really pretty”,  to being with family at the bedside of an accident victim as they stop life support in the ICU of an HonorHealth Hospital, to orchestrating a surprise 90th birthday for Mr. George who we visited every Friday afternoon for almost 8 months.  My life is better because of Pets on Wheels.”

“Molly is a Cockapoo with a passion for people and dogs.  Joining Pets On Wheels was her dream come true as she gets to love, and be loved, by everyone she meets.”

“We have had the privilege of having Pets On Wheels come to our retirement community for the last few years. Our residents thoroughly enjoy seeing the kind dogs that come into their rooms and common areas for a visit. It’s wonderful to see the faces of our residents brighten as they pet these beautiful animals. We are grateful for Pets on Wheels and the dedication of the volunteers and their animals!” 

“I have to say I have enjoyed our visits to Pueblo Norte this last year.  The residents get so attached to Mr. Hobbs… The second visit I noticed a complete change in most of the residents… I can honestly say I know that Mr Hobbs is a big part of their lives.”

 “We are so grateful to have Pets on Wheels at our facility. It’s so wonderful to see the faces of our patients light up when the dogs come and visit.”

Princess Poppy was visiting a patient who was getting chemotherapy for the first time.  She said all her fear went away while she was petting Poppy and she said because of Poppy she had no problem doing it!

 “The joy that pets on wheels brings to Manor Village is evident in our Memory Care Communities! Gypsy, Mr. Hobbs, and now Molly allow our residents to fondly remember their own beloved pets and give them so much appreciated puppy time. All the Pets On Wheels Staff are a delight to work with! I feel as though they add so much to our daily activities.”