A miniature horse from Waimea that visits patients at Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital has become national nonprofit Pet Partners’ “Pet of the Year.”
A miniature horse from Waimea that visits patients at Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital has become national nonprofit Pet Partners’ “Pet of the Year.”
The announcement came Tuesday on social media that Darby, a a 16-year-old gelding and certified therapy pet owned by Lynn Scully, marketing and communications manager at QNHCH, had received the honor.
“I’m SO EXCITED to report that thanks to ALL OF YOU, I have been named by Pet Partners as the nation’s 2024 PET OF THE YEAR!” read a post on Scully’s Facebook page attributed to Darby. “I am so appreciative of everyone’s generosity and honored to represent both Pet Partners and Hawaii as Pet of the Year.”
Darby, the first entrant ever from Hawaii, was the top rainmaker in Pet Partners’ annual Pet of the Year fundraiser. He topped 99 other entrants by raising $16,277, 109% of his goal of $15,000.
The nationwide campaign raised $72,017, 70% of its goal of $103,000. Those funds, according to Pet Partners’ website, will support the Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program, which, through visits by therapy pets, helps bring love, happiness and healing to millions of seniors, patients, veterans and children in need all around the world each year.
“This six-week campaign was busy but now the real work starts,” Darby said on Scully’s Facebook page. “I want to keep spreading the word about pet therapy and hopefully recruit more furry four-legged friends like me to join the team and help cheer people up!”
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