Using pet therapy for healing and bringing smiles
Hello Okanagan! Pets and People® had a little vacation. We are now back strong and ready to move forward again.
The History of Pets and People®
Pets and People® began as a program that started in South BC in January 1974. Upon moving to Northwest BC. In June 1982 found that our BC Medical went to Whitehorse Yukon for our BC medical needs.
At that time, Physicians would come down and do a local “Wellness and Health Days” event. During this time, I would visit the people waiting at the small health center for their visits.
I often brought my 150-lb. Rottweiler(Goucho) and my 8-lb. cat(Snoopie), sat on my dog's back. This duo got a lot of attention every time. In April 1984, the Yukon physicians asked if the three of us if would come to Whitehorse and visit their medical facilities.
This journey would require those involved to make a 200-mile return trip each day, but they wanted to see if it would work. So, a few of us went to Whitehorse but found out that the Yukon Territory would not accept our BC Registry since their area was directly answerable to Ottawa, Canada. We would have to have a Canada Registry.
It took time to get through all the paperwork, since everything was done by phone calls and mail. At the same time, my members felt a name change should be done. Thus, the name Pets and People®, which was a suggestion given by an elderly person, was voted on by 57 local individuals and Whitehorse citizens.
All these people said yes to the name, so when the Canada Registry was received on January 5, 1986,it was as Pets and People®. We were given the status of a Charitable Nonprofit Group.
On a positive note, the Canada Registry was accepted everywhere in Canada and even in the USA. We then were required to follow the laws and rules of our Federal Government, at all times.
In October 1990, I had an accident 13 miles off the Alaska Highway that resulted in a broken neck and back. I had surgeries for my broken neck, back, and other injuries over five years. While I was in a wheelchair, my cat was brought down to me with her documents.
A Veterinary hospital did all the new documents required by local Medical laws. Because of these events, I was allowed to visit care facilities, even in a wheelchair.
Over the subsequent years, I've experienced falls that required a total of six surgeries. I was no longer allowed to live in the north rural area. When I found out that I could continue my Vancouver physiotherapy. I brought the program in Kelowna in May 1995. Since i already had the documents, registration, and insurance they were accepted by Interior Health. I was allowed immediately to visit Care Homes, and on February 3 1996 I started visiting Kewlona General Hospital. At that time my dog back then was a Belgian Groenendael named Belinda, also my BALANCE SERVICE DOG.
When I almost lost the Trademark in May 2017, I paid for the renewal myself. My Lawyer immediately started the process to remove the Society Link from the use of the Trademark. The entire procedure was completed on November 27, 2017.
Thus, I became the sole and exclusive owner of the Trademark and Intellectual Property of “Pets and People®”. As well I am the author and sole owner of “Pets and People®” Copyrights.
Walter - Biewer Yorkie