PetPALS (“People and Animals Linking Successfully”) was created as an intergenerational program of The Ohio State University Extension to connect youth and their pets with senior adults. The project has evolved to include connections with at-risk youth, schools, and hospitals.
Through the PetPALS project, 4-H volunteers teach youth the skills needed to participate in animal-assisted activities in the community. Youth learn about the physical changes associated with aging, along with basic medical conditions they may encounter when visiting different types of facilities.
The project involves a 10-step lesson program with PetPALS county club leaders; the project prepares youth to certify their animals to visit facilities with the club. Animals selected for the project must be people-oriented, predictable, and inspire confidence in those whom the club visits. Dogs participating in the project must pass their American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test. Other animals, such as cats and rabbits, need to pass the Socialized 4-H PetPALS test, which is similar to the CGC test. Certifications and facility visits are built into the PetPALS curriculum as part of the project completion. (The CGC test is not a full therapy certification, but a common facility requirement to host dogs.)
Hooves and Paws 4-H Club hosts the PetPALS project in Muskingum County with advisors Heather Jackson and Lisa Marshall, who are certified PetPALS leaders. The club began in 2018 to help launch the PetPALS project in the county. Facility partnerships have included The Oaks at Bethesda, Avondale Youth Center, and the Muskingum County Center for Seniors. The project has been on hold in the club since the pandemic, with plans of relaunching this year.
For more information about PetPALS, contact hoovesandpaws2018@gmail.com. The club welcomes new 4-H members to enroll in the project. Interested Muskingum County youth currently enrolled in a club can join Hooves and Paws as a secondary club for the project. The PetPALS project is found on p. 36 of the 2024 Family Guide, book #230.