Pax Pet Visit ministers are a group of animal lovers who know and appreciate the ability of pets to demonstrate God’s love through unconditional love and unbounded acceptance of the individual. They believe in the healing benefits that come with this unconditional love. Pets can include dogs, cats, parrots, guinea pigs, rabbits, and a variety of other animals that have lived in the owner’s home for at least six months at the time of evaluation and testing.
Currently, the pet teams visit area care centers and make hospice visits. The pet handler and pet work together to comfort, amuse, warm a heart, or entice a memory or good feeling in someone and allow them to forget their pains, worries, and loneliness for a few minutes. We constantly aspire to add more teams so we can broaden the ministry to people in need. We have a group of certified teams which meet periodically to gain knowledge and build community with one other.
Dogs must have the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen certification and all pet teams must pass the Pet Partners certified training. Pet ministry volunteers also complete a background check, sign a code of conduct and attend vulnerable adult training.
CLICK HERE to view the Pet Ministry brochure.
We are a group of fun, passionate animal lovers who enjoy each other’s company and are excited to be making a difference through this ministry.
If you would like further information on this ministry please contact, Renee Reardon, Care Ministry Coordinator, 952-405-7200.
Give us, great and gentle God, the caring appreciation of those creatures who model for us your companionship and protection as well as your personal care. We have seen in them, loving God, the stability of commitment and the greatness of trust we owe you. For the joy they have brought us and the faith in humanity they have shown us we thank you, our God.
–A Prayer for Animals, Joan Chittister