Between July 1990 and June 2009, over 1,200 volunteers have shared their pet's love with the elderly and/or infirm in Scottsdale's health care centers. The Pets on Wheels of Scottsdale's Hall of Fame, was established in 2004 to honor pets which, with their owners, have stood out above the rest over a period of several years.

Each had made over 250 visits and had contributed in several other ways to significantly advance the pet-visitation therapy program. In total, they have made 7,160 visits, which would be the equivalent of one volunteer-pet team visiting weekly for 138 years. It means that over 121,300 times, one of the pet's companions had asked a resident or patient, "Would you like to see my dog?" or maybe helped teach a 2nd grader how to keep from being bitten or scratched from dogs and cats. Whew! And, it amounts to about 10,740 hours of volunteering time during 128 collective years of service, for these 15 outstanding dogs.

All inductions into the Hall of Fame are made following retirement and, most often postumously. You may click on a photo to enlarge it.

Fiscal Year 2004

 

RALF -- (Red, Adorable, Little Fella), a toy poodle, with his human companion, Mary Seeman, visited nursing homes in the City of Scottsdale over 570 times during the 13 years 1992-2004. Over 9,120 times Mary said to a resident, “Would you like to meet my dog?” Ralf and Mary collected monthly visiting records and were helpful to the program in many other ways during that time, as well as attending every meeting during all of those years.

 

ELSIE -- a Boxer, with her human companions, Helen & Bob Caldwell, visited nursing homes in the City of Scottsdale over 308 times during the 10 years 1994-2003. Over 5,230 times Helen and Bob said to a resident, “Would you like to meet my dog?” This pet therapy team was helpful to the program in many other ways during that time, such as Helens position on the Board of Directors and as the Statutory Agent.

Fiscal Year 2005

 

OREO -- a Shih Tzu, with her human companion, Dorothy Sins, visited nursing homes in the City of Scottsdale 800 times during the 10 years 1996-2005. Over 13,400 times Dorothy said to a resident, “Would you like to meet my dog?” This pet therapy team devoted extra time and effort for the residents, as well. Sharing their pets' love was a weekly must for both Dorothy and her daughter, Kathy.

Fiscal Year 2006

 

KAYLA -- a Golden Retriever, with her human companions, Jordy and Andi Bock, visited nursing homes in the City of Scottsdale over 250 times during the 6 years 2001-2006. Over 4,300 times Jordy or Andi said to a resident or patient, “Would you like to meet my dog?” Kayla, with her kennel mate, Shayna, helped with the Children's Pet Safety project, at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center, at special events, and in many other ways.

 

GIGI -- a black miniature Poodle, with her human companion, Edie Evenson, visited health care centers in the City of Scottsdale 270 times during a 5-1/2 year period from 2001 until retirement in 2006. Nearly 4,600 times Edie asked a resident or patient, "Would you like to meet my dog?" Gigi gave Edie support as she managed the logo shirt sales and while she was a Director on the Board. Gigi alternated some of her visits with her kennel mate, Tina, and retired in July 2006.

Fiscal Year 2007

 

ZACH -- a Golden Retriever, with his human companion, Susan Smith, visited nursing homes in the City of Scottsdale over 393 times during the 11 years 1996-2007. Over 6,510 times Susan said to a resident, “Would you like to meet my dog?” Zach helped Susan in many other ways during that time, evaluating new volunteer teams, manning event booths, teaching children pet safety, showing off at Macy’s sales and Blessing of the Animals booths, and being by Susan’s side at board meetings.

 

MR PEABODY -- a Lhasa Apso, with his human companion, Kathy Sins, visited nursing homes in the City of Scottsdale nearly 1,200 times during the 11 years 1996-2007. Over 20,400 times Kathy said to a resident, “Would you like to meet my dog?” Mr. Peabody and Kathy even followed some residents when they were moved, so they could continue their relationships. Mr. Peabody shared most of the visits over the years with Oreo, who belonged to Kathy’s mother, Dorothy Sins.

Fiscal Year 2008

 

CODY -- a West Highland Terrier, with his companions, Jerry and Kathy Miller, visited for nearly 11 years at the Weyrich Care Center at Westminster Village. Cody retired at age 13, after 273 visits and 4,741 contacts with the residents. Jerry and Kathy handled the logo shirt sales. Cody was always happy to get his bath, don his logo scarf, and head off to the care center. The Millers got Cody from the West Highland Terrier Rescue group at age 2, after he recovered from a broken collar bone.

Fiscal Year 2009

 

AMBER -- a Shih Tzu, with her companion, Eileen Babington, visited over 9 years 1999-2008, at Plaza Health Care, Life Care, and Kindred Hospital. Amber made 265 visits including making children's pet education presentations and dozens of fund raising and PR events -- about 4,537 personal contacts. Amber helped Eileen in evaluating new volunteer pets, manning outdoor and indoor events, and making the Macy's Sale Day a most effective annual fund raising event. She was by Eileen's side at Board meetings, and the many events Eileen coordinated. Amber shared her home life, and traded visits with Sassy, a Jack Russell Terrier.

 

MACKENZIE -- a Shetland Sheep Dog, with his companion, Warren Clark, visited the Fountain View, Life Care Center, and Life Skills classes at Chaparrel and Coronado High School's 888 times from June 2002 until January 2008 -- 6-1/2 years. That's an average of 11 visits a month, or 15,100 individual contacts. MacKenzie and Warren also helped many times at events, meetings, and with the event canopy. Warren has trained MacKenzie to be his "hearing ear" dog, and both retired from POW January 2009 -- great volunteers and a memorable contribution to the community.

 

SHAYNA -- a Golden Retriever, with her companions, Andi & Jordi Bock, visited 394 times, at Healthsouth Rehabilitation Hospital, Life Care Center, and the Piper Cancer Center, from June 2001 until Shayna's retirement for health reasons, in January 2009 at age 11. Shayna was also involved in the children's pet safety project for many years, as well as helping with many outdoor events. All in all, Shayna was in contact with 6,700 individuals as a result of these many visits. She joins her former kennel mate, Kayla, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

 

HANNAH -- a Bouvier Des Flandres, with her companion, Albert Scherr, visited 645 times (nearly 10 times a month), at Life Care Center, Fountain View, and the Virginia G. Cancer Center. She made nearly 11,000 contacts with the residents and patients. Hannah's size, 85 pounds, and friendly nature endeared her to residents and staff members. She retired in February 2009 after 5-1/2 years of loving service and passed over the Rainbow Bridge in January 2010. Albert was the most senior volunteer in the Pets on Wheels program.

 

GRIZZLY -- a Yellow Labrador Retriever, with his companion, Stacey Jarriel, visited 262 times at Fountain View and Westminster Village health care centers, and earlier at Healthsouth Rehabilitation Hospital. Some 4,400 times Stacey has asked a resident, "Would you like to see my dog, Grizzly?" Over an 8-year period, Grizzly missed only 2 months, due to knee surgury. At the age of 14-1/2, Grizzly was retired. The residents will miss him greatly.

 

NAOMI -- a long-haired Dachshund, with her companion Margaret Bird, visited 345 times at Pueblo Norte Nursing Home, the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Ctr., and Courtney's Foundation during the years 2002-2009. Over 5,800 times, Margaret asked a resident or patient, "Would you like to see my dog, Naomi?" Naomi also supported Margaret with her duties on the Board of Directors and handling pet health records. They visited in Flagstaff during the summers and Margaret's mother in the West Valley, under the auspices of the Delta Society.

 

RICKY -- A little designer dog, with his companions, Kathy and Terry Schroeder, visited 300 times during 9-1/2 years, 1996-2006. Over 5,400 times, Kathy asked a resident or patient, "Would you like to see my dog, Ricky?" Kathy is a pet groomer and clipped Ricky so beautifully that many thought there should be a special breed like Ricky. Ricky helped Kathy as an evalutator of new volunteers. Also, Kathy was a presenter at one of the Pets on Wheels quarterly meetings. Ricky retired in 2006 when the family moved.

These 15 outstanding pets have been role models for pets helping people. For Hall of Fame pets after 2009, go to Hall of Fame 2010 and Beyond