Our Pet Assisted Therapy team is currently made up of Kate, the facilitator; BigBob, the tuxedo cat; and Isabel the beagle.

Kate: I have 12 years of experience teaching in the field of special education, both as a K-12 classroom teacher and working with young adults who have developmental disabilities/intellectual impairments. I also have over 25 years of experience working at the college level, teaching courses about special education and inclusion to future teachers. Since late 2015, I have coordinated a college-based certification program for individuals who are pursuing secondary teaching certification. I also bring a strong commitment to those who are hungry/food insecure and to pets who were rescued from the streets or adopted via our veterinarian’s office. In December 2021, I was elected to the Board of Directors for Windwalker (our Pet Therapy credentialing organization) and serve as a Member-at-Large.

BigBob is a black and white tuxedo cat. He turned 12 years old in August 2021, and he has been a therapy can since 2019. He has diabetes which is controlled with diet now, and he doesn’t need insulin anymore. His favorite book to share with children is Dagmar the Diabetic Cat by James Pearson with illustrations by JoAnn Fischer.

Isabel is a 13-inch beagle who achieved her therapy dog credentialing in April 2022. She is a blue and tan beagle with white markings. She turned 9 years old in December 2021.