Pets Helping People
About Us
PHP is a leading 501c3 non-profit organization founded in 1998 with the belief that dogs, through their unconditional love and acute senses, can be powerful tools for learning and healing. We provide top-notch training, assessment, and support for individuals who wish to share their dogs with people in our community of all backgrounds and ages. We partner with schools and assisted living facilities, and various other organizations in Southeast Wisconsin to provide joy, support and comfort through the power of pet therapy.
Our Story
Since our founding in 1998, we have trained over 800 handler–pet teams. Our dedicated PHP volunteers and their dogs have positively impacted more than 170,000 individuals across Southeast Wisconsin. Each year, our committed volunteers contribute over 40,000 hours of service to make this impact possible.
Our handler/pet teams benefit from Pets Helping People’s ongoing support in finding just the right placement. Training classes are held at Congregational Home located at 13900 W Burleigh in Brookfield, Wisconsin, where we continue to train new teams each month.
PHP partners with organizations and facility directors who care to do more for the people they serve. Our partners believe, as we do, in the healing power of a cold nose and a wagging tail. Working together, we create joy and inspiration for the more than 5,000 people we reach annually in the Southeastern section of Wisconsin through our independent certified handler/pet teams. We reach an additional 5,000 people with our group pet therapy events.
- Improve and enrich the lives of others through animal-assisted therapy
- Employ best practices in assessing, training, accrediting, and supporting pet-handler teams
- Educate the community regarding the benefits of the human-animal bond achieved through animal-assisted therapy, partnerships and special events
We Pride Ourselves On...
- Our comprehensive vetting and training program for handlers and their pets.
- Our unique training partnership with Congregational Home (CH) that provides handler/pet teams with hands-on training in an authentic setting while enriching the lives of CH residents through meaningful interactions.
- A vast variety of volunteer opportunities through our connection with facility partners
