Volunteer's Voice
News for and about the Visiting Pet Program
April 2022
President's Message

It’s Mardi Gras Day as I write this. A day we haven’t had in two years. The city seems to have come back to life and is smiling bigger and brighter than ever.
And I feel the same is true for the Visiting Pet Program and the lovely folks we visit. After two years of no/limited visits, no orientations, no evaluations, no workshops, we came back with a bang. In January we had our first evaluation of the year and welcomed 11 new handlers and 9 members with a new/additional pet. I say pet because we have a precious gray rabbit working her way through the probationary period now. You can learn more about our new teams, including Trixy the rabbit and two MITs, below.

“It’s good to be back!”

As I visited with my new golden girl, Ella, almost all the teams we visited with echoed the same sentiment – “It’s good to be back.” The residents’ smiles were bigger and brighter than I remembered. The staff was happier to see us back walking the halls. Our presence was missed and is cherished.

We will continue to need to be flexible. We will likely have visits canceled due to outbreaks. We will have to wear masks and show proof of vaccination to do some visits. We will need to weigh our own personal risk with updated guidance and requirements of the facilities we visit. And please reschedule your visit if you are not feeling well or have been in contact with someone who has tested positive.

Thank you for your patience over the last couple of years. Thank you for your flexibility and understanding as we’ve ramped back up. Thank you for always thinking of those beautiful souls we visit.

Nicole Parks
President
New Volunteer Orientation

  • May 21, 2022 (Saturday)
10:00am to Noon
 
  • June 18, 2022 (Saturday)
10:00am to Noon

  • November 12, 2022 (Saturday)
10:00am to Noon
  
 Harahan Senior Center
 100 Elodie
  Pre-registration required

Contact paws4visits@gmail.com to register
Pet/ Handler Evaluation

  • July 30, 2022 (Saturday)
 
 Harahan Senior Center
   100 Elodie
 Pre-registration required
 
Contact
Barbara Hyland 
to register 
at  
   
 if you would like to have an additional pet tested.
Meet our New Volunteer Teams
Peggy & Steve Armstrong with Hyacinth, the English Bulldog. Peggy is a teacher at the Academy of the Sacred Heart School and a volunteer with the Ladies of Charity. Steve is a business consultant helping start up companies get to market. He also loves anything vintage, cars, guitars, etc. Hyacinth loves her daily walks, dog parks and is a seasoned traveler.
Melanie & Macie (MIT) Chinchilla, with Trixy, the Holland Lop Rabbit. Melanie is a supervisor at Ochsner in Respiratory. Macie enjoys tennis and piano and loves spending time with her family and friends. Trixy has attended school functions and pet stores.
Carrie Beene with Rae Rae, the Shih Tzu Mix. Carrie is a business owner, does photoshop work for advertising and is also an author and artist. Rae Rae loves people and going for neighborhood walks.
Gary Luccioni with Archie, the Golden Retriever. Gary is a medical representative and a volunteer with Gulf South Golden Retriever Rescue. Archie loves to be petted and has attended intermediate training with Connie Back.
Anna Landry with Georgia, the Golden Retriever. Anna is a veterinarian at Ark Animal Hospital.
Anna also specializes in veterinary acupuncture. Georgia loves to be petted, attend festivals and going for walks.
Michelle & Molly (MIT) Villere, with Roux the Goldendoodle. Michelle is a mother of four, a soccer coach and volunteer with the SPCA. Molly loves playing with Roux and volunteers at animal shelters. Roux responds to sit, lay and shake and enjoys going for walks.
Current Volunteers Add a Pet
Brenda Becnel with Cooper, the Catahoula Mix. Brenda is in the Banking profession and enjoys spending time with her dogs. Brenda has been a member of VPP since 2010 and is active in the Buddy Program. Cooper enjoys his daily walks and car rides. He attended Brenda’s bootcamp at home for training.
Kimberly Bradley with Nara, the Yellow Lab. Kimberly works in Pediatric Occupational Therapy. She has been an active member many years in VPP with visits to Children’s Hospital and Magnolia School. Nara loves people and performs over 30 commands and 10 tricks.
Jerry Gibel with Tatra, the Slovensky Cuvac. Jerry is enjoying retirement and volunteering in the community. Jerry has been a member of VPP many years and active in the Buddy Program. Tatra loves going for walks and attended JCM Dog Training.
Sabrina Jacks with Trinity, the Boston Terrier. Sabrina is an LSAT instructor, enrollment advisor. Sabrina serves on the Board of the VPP and is also active in the Buddy Program. Trinity loves people and going for walks.
Nicole Parks with Ella, the Golden Retriever. Nicole is an account supervisor for a local advertising agency and on the Home & School Board for her son’s school. Nicole is president of the VPP having served in various capacities over the years. Ella loves people and going for walks.
Claire Sommers with Iris, the Whippet. Claire is enjoying retirement, volunteering and bicycling. Claire is a former president of VPP and currently serves on the Board. Iris loves going to the dog park, pet stores and being petted.
Terry & Jeff Stadler with Mabel, the Pug. Terry is employed with Ochsner in NICU as a Milk Tech. Jeff works for the Marine Corps. Both have been active in VPP many years. Mabel loves to be petted, going to Magazine St., pet stores and Audubon Park.
Joy Sturtevant with Talley, the Boxer. Joy is a professor at LSUHSC Medical School in academics and administration. Joy has been an active member of VPP many years including the Buddy Program. Talley loves her neighborhood walks. She also attended Obedience Training with Connie Back.
Pam Taquino with Nola, the Golden Retriever. Pam enjoys retirement and volunteers with Lady Boxer and rescues. Nola loves going for walks, meeting neighbors, being petted and going to pet stores.
Happy Retirement
Pat Egers retired her beautiful mixed breed Maggie. Pat and Maggie joined the VPP in 2011. They were regulars at Children's Hospital visits.  
Barbara Hyland retired her regal Greyhound Alex.  Alex joined the VPP in 2014.   Alex was a regular at Chateau Living Center and St. Anthony's Nursing Home. In addition he went to Delgado for presentations to the Occupational Therapy Assistants on the benefits of pet therapy and presentations at the LA/SPCA Care Cadet Program. Alex also participated in the Pet Assisted Therapy Program at EJGH.
Our Deepest Sympathies to the following VPP members
Pam Taquino's lovely Boxer Lady crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Pam and Lady joined the VPP in 2018 and were regulars at Magnolia School and Colonial Oaks visits.  
Joy Sturtevant's handsome Boxer Benny crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Benny joined VPP 2012. He did everything offered by the VPP program - nursing homes, hospital visits, reading to rover, conventions, camps, and the airport.
Donna Williams sweet little Sallie Mae has crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Donna And Sallie Mae joined the VPP in 2015. Sallie Mae loved her visits to Children's and Colonial Oaks, but was especially fond of her visits to the airport.
Leslie Davis's beloved standard dachshund Bacchus crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Bacchus joined the VPP in 2009.  Leslie and Bacchus were regulars at John Hainkel Home and Chateau de Notre Dame visits.  
Carol Lambert Lanasa's   beautiful German Shepherd Dog Buddy crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Carol and Buddy joined the VPP in 2016 and were regulars at Chateau Living visits.  
Claire Sommers smiling Greyhound Sadie crossed the Rainbow Bridge.  Sadie joined the VPP in 2014 and was a regular at St Margaret's and Reading to Rover 
Nancy Tatarski's majestic Lab Moss crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Nancy and Moss joined the VPP in 2012. They were regulars at St Margaret's visits.  
Casthy Logan's precious Boxer Sadie crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Sadie joined the VPP In 2019 and was a regular at Our Lady of Wisdom
Guardian Angels

Donations were received for Lee’s Legacy from Edy Conkerton, Joseph Schlotterer, Delia Hardie, Charlotte Walker, Jennifer Burstain, Mike Azzarello, Nancy Tatarski, Emily Major, Carol Lambert-LaNasa, Leslie Davis, Helen Hester, Julia Murphy, Karen Jefferson, Nicole Parks, and Amy Blaylock.

Donations were received from Claire Sommers, Kevin Hand, Danna and Mason Morris, Fay Schultz, Barbara Hyland, Hap and Johanna Habisreitinger, and Diane Smith in memory of Mozart, pet of Fay schultz

A donation was received from United Way of Midland County

Donations were received from Martha Spence, Dr. Aaron Wolfson, Judy Fisher, Brenda Chetta, and Suzanne Christensen in memory of Tommy Gaffney and Lee’s Legacy

Donations were received from Barbara Hyland, Claire Sommers, Kevin Hand, Thomas Howley, Helen Schneidau, Danna and Mason Morris, Joy Sturtevant, Diane Smith, Hap and Johanna Habisreitinger, Bill Schultz, Desha Rhodes, and Laurie Ducros in memory of Fay Schultz

Donations were received from Claire Sommers, Danna and Mason Morris, Kevin Hand, Fay Schultz, Diane Smith, and Barbara Hyland in memory of Sadie, pet of Claire Sommers


Donations were received from Diane Smith, Joy Sturtevant, and Barbara Hyland in memory of Bacchus, pet of Leslie Davis

Donations were received form igive.com, Pam Taquino, Katherine Acuff, and the Benevity Community Impact Fund

A donation was received from Joy Sturtevant in memory of Sallie Mae pet of Donna Williams

A donation was received from Fay Schultz in memory of Sue Ling - Pet of Joan Rey

A donation was received from Barbara Hyland in memory of Chole pet of Suzette Hubble

A donation was received from Megan Taylor-Wolfe in appreciation for Dixon's visit to Ochsner

A donation was received from Barbara Hyland in memory of Buddy pet of Carol Lanasa

A donation was received from Claire Sommers and Barbara Hyland in memory of Moss pet of Nancy Tatarski

A donation was received from faculty and staff in the office of Undergraduate Medical Education at LSU Health Science Center in memory of Benny pet of Joy Sturevant

A donation was received from Anna Breaux and her tennis teammates in memory of Anna's Dog Izzy - Proceeds from Charity Tennis Tournament

 
A donation was received from Delia Hardie in memory of Claire Sommer’s Parker, Malay Hajra’s Mita, and Barbara Hyland’s Zambi
About the Visiting Pet Program

is an all volunteer 501 (C)(3) non-profit animal assisted therapy organization serving Orleans, Jefferson and St.Tammany parishes. 
 
For the past 33 years, the volunteers of the VPP have lived up to their motto of "Bringing Love and Leaving Smiles" to the residents of nursing homes and hospitals.

Our literacy project, Reading to Rover offers young readers the opportunity to practice their reading aloud skills to the gentle therapy dogs.
 
If you would like to make a donation to the Visiting Pet Program, please click on the button below or mail your check to P.O. Box 24748, New Orleans, LA 70184-4748. Please note if your donation is in memory of a person or a pet. We will be happy to send an acknowledgment of your donation to the family. Please include the name and address to send the acknowledgment. Because we are a 501(C)(3) organization, your donation is tax deductible. We are an all volunteer organization. Your donation goes directly to the support of our mission. 

Thank you