Support Dekker's Memory and Therapy Outreach

This memorial campaign is to honor my sweet therapy dog and best friend, Dekker, whose big heart brought comfort to many before his life was cut short in October of 2024 due to dilated cardiomyopathy. Dekker and I volunteered with Utah Pet Partners (the local chapter of the Pet Partners organization) and both thrived in our work as a therapy team. Dekker brought comfort and company to people in hospitals, care centers, workplaces, and schools during times of crisis, stress, or loneliness. We saw amazing things during this time, such as breakthroughs with dementia patients, rare smiles from long-term hospital patients, and stress relief in both students and staff at schools. Losing Dekker was devastating, not only for me but for our community. I received so much love and kindness after losing my boy and even some financial relief from Utah Pet Partners, who had raised enough funds to cover nearly half of the overwhelming vet bills.

Now I’d like to pay it forward and continue Dekker’s legacy of compassion by raising funds for Utah Pet Partners to support other therapy teams. I also hope to educate others and hopefully draw new volunteers (whether as “unleashed” volunteers or as therapy teams with a pet) to the program so they can expand to more people and places in need of resources like animal-assisted therapy.

Lastly, I hope to raise enough to pay off the remaining vet bills from Dekker’s diagnosis and treatments, as the process of paying them off has been a painful reminder of the grief I still feel over losing my heart dog.

Half any funds raised (up to $1200) will cover the vet bills while the rest (including any amount beyond the original goal) will go directly to Utah Pet Partners. As a non-profit, Pet Partners relies heavily on donations to run their program, and I’d love to see more amazing pets like Dekker out there helping people through tough times.

Dekker’s 5th birthday is on January 30th, and I would love to get at least halfway to the fundraising goal by then to celebrate this amazing boy. Thanks in advance for your support!