Marley’s Bond

Kimberly Devich and Marley volunteer to help connect community members during the
pandemic. Kimberly is a Health Home Care Coordinator at Rural Resources, and she is also
a registered Pet Partners therapy animal handler. Having Marley interact with clients has
helped relieve the feeling of depression and isolation. For many of our older adult clients,
they have been isolated from any in-person contact for well over a year. Many of these
clients are unable to have a pet of their own due to living arrangements or they are at the
point they wouldn’t be able to care for one. Having the chance to see Marley on a Zoom
call or receive a picture/trading card in the mail, is often the highlight of their day. These
highlights help connect our staff to the clients that they care for, it increases happiness
and allows us to have the personal conversations necessary to ensure they are getting the
medical treatment needed.

Kim and Marley have been working with Cherie as she has been confined to her bed due
to severe scoliosis. Cherie states that “the connection was instantaneous. Marley was the
glue that cemented the bond between two devoted creature lovers and the ones they
protect and provide for.” Cherie has worked with rescue animals in the past and has a
passion for creating a better life for all living creatures. Cherie is a photographer and has
used her love for animals and photography to help raise money for rescue animals,
however, due to scoliosis it has been difficult to find the strength to do the things she
loves. One common goal of Rural Resources and Pet Partners is to help clients reach their
goals and increase happiness and sustainability. Since meeting Marley, Cherie states, “Kim
and Marley’s visits and Kim’s encouraging words have been such an inspiration to me that I
have begun not only walking again but taking up my camera, which formerly was my
source of income.”

Another client that Kim and Marley have worked with is in assisted living and has serious
respiratory problems. When asked about how Marley has made an impact on the
necessary health care conversations Linda states “It puts you on even ground because if
you like a dog or have a dog you found something in common with each other and we
both know that conversations go a lot easier if you find that one common denominator be
it a dog, a horse, a cow, or a child. It all brings everything down to one level and it’s very
very easy to talk to someone like that because you open up.”

At Rural Resources, we are constantly working with individuals and families that are going
through difficult times. Therapy animals can make all the difference to some. Most
recently, with the continued effects of COVID-19, isolation is one of the biggest concerns
for our older adult residents. Therapy animals have helped to make a connection and fill
the gap when isolation, depression, and increased health issues have been so present.
Therapy animals help connect our employees and clients, which build a deeper relationship
and help clients open to their real needs. Therapy animals can bring a sense of calm and
security and comfort. None of this would be possible without Pet Partners and their
passion for therapy animals, handlers, and the communities they serve. Pet Partners is a
national leader in animal-assisted therapy and works with multiple species to reach their
mission to improve human health and well-being through the power of the human-animal
bond. Thank you, Pet Partners, Kim, and Marley, for making these connections possible!!