B.C. Pets and Friends Society
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Mission Statement
For over 40 years, BC Pets and Friends (BCPF) has been cultivating compassion, kindness and connection through its pet therapy program. BCPF’s goal is to improve the lives of those in our community that would benefit from the social, emotional and physical benefits of pet therapy. Research studies have shown that the presence of animals relieves, relaxes, and discharges people from tension and stress of everyday life. It has been clinically proven that through petting, touching, and talking with animals, patients’ blood pressure is lowered, stress is relieved, and depression is eased.
About This Cause
BCPF has a over 200 volunteer pet therapy teams. BCPF provides volunteer services at several types of facilities including, but not limited to, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, rehab facilities, mental health institutions, schools, hospitals, cancer centers, hospice facilities, airports, and universities. In 2024, BCPF has partnered with 149 facilities across the Lower Mainland. Due to the strong demand for pet therapy services, the number of facilities on the waitlist for a therapy team is approximately 75. While we continue to make significant progress in adding new volunteer teams, the demand for pet therapy is rising significantly and we continue to on-board new teams to strive to meet the growing needs. In addition to these regular visits, BCPF participated in 83 community events, including our Feel the Love Community Events and our Corporate Sponsored Wellness events. Through these events BCPF provides the comfort of a pet therapy to those in the community in high stress situations, such as first responders, students during exam time or accountants during tax season. There is high demand for our services during these times as pet therapy has been proven to be an effective tool for lower stress levels during these times. According to our volunteer survey, BCPF spent over 20,000 hours in the community providing pet therapy, reaching an estimated 200,000 individuals. BCPFs’ visits are welcoming, accessible, and inclusive for people regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, ability, race, ethnicity, culture, religion, language, education, income, or geography. Pets provide unconditional love to everyone and our teams visit facilities serving everyone, especially those who are vulnerable and would otherwise not have access to programs like this. As BCPFs’ visits are free, this eliminates barriers. Visits with pets are relaxed in nature and provide much comfort for the residents our teams visit. They are meant to bring comfort and care to help those suffering from, among other things, loneliness, stress, anxiety, and sadness. The pet becomes a focal point and a topic of conversation that leads residents to engage in conversation about their needs and feelings.