Paulette Bethel was one of the founders of Intermountain Therapy Animals
in 1993 (she even thought up our name). A lifelong animal enthusiast, she has been a dolphin trainer at Sea World,
a horse trainer and equitation instructor/exhibitor; and eventually concentrated on dogs, serving as ITA's Training
Director. She was a Pet Partner®
for ten years with three different Doberman companions; and she was a longtime Delta Society Team Evaluator and
Delta Master Evaluator Instructor.
Paulette has been writing
and editing newsletters, columns, and articles since 1980 with the conception and execution of 'Insights', a monthly
paper devoted to metaphysical concepts. For ten years she was the Training Director for the largest animal volunteer
group in Utah, Intermountain Therapy Animals, a Delta Society affiliate, she helped found and develop. As Training
Director, Paulette worked with 200 volunteers and their animals teaching therapeutic techniques to aid health care
professionals.
She also hosted a weekly talk show
on the radio where listeners were urged to call in with their questions about how to better care for their pets.
She has made numerous television appearances with one or another of her registered Doberman Pet Partners promoting
the use of animals for therapeutic techniques.
As one of only a handful of Master Instructors for the Delta Society Paulette traveled the country lecturing and
giving seminars on animal assisted
therapeutic techniques. As part of her duties she wrote a column about training techniques for handlers. Much of
this was published via the Internet and has evolved into giving PowerPoint presentations on how to choose the proper
pet and how to train that pet. These presentations are now available on CD and offered only on this site under
the Products section.
Often Pet Partners animals can help people to respond when they might not otherwise. A head injury had left Lewis
with limited speaking abilities. In order to get Lewis to try harder, Paulette instructed her Doberman Pinscher,
Testa, to react only when Lewis gives verbal commands. Because Lewis enjoys having Testa listen to him, he speaks
more often and is gradually becoming more verbal.
Paulette, who started working with animals more than 30 years ago as a dolphin trainer, also trains and evaluates
Pet Partners teams in her community.
Patients involved with physical rehabilitation programs with animals show increased motivation to perform their
exercises.
