Congratulations to the winner of the 2022 Pet of the Year competition

Happy Happy Hazel

Hazel and her human partner Sara raised more than $30,000 to support Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program.

Fun Facts about our 2022 Pet of the Year:

• Hazel and Sara are a registered therapy animal team and Hazel has been a therapy dog since 2018.
• Hazel has made over 350 visits and has over 1,000 volunteer hours.
• Credentialed with Pet Partners Animal-Assisted Crisis Response (AACR) Program.
• Multiple AKC Therapy Dog titles.
• Favorite Toy: blue squeaky dinosaur & anything her siblings are playing with.
• Favorite Activity: making people smile (especially children) at therapy animal visits. Sharing her love and adventures on social media @happyhappyhazel.
• Favorite Treat: Pumpkin & yogurt pup-sicles and goat cheese.
• Greatest Accomplishment: “Making a difference in this world…one paw at a time.”
• Happy Happy Hazel and her human parents have raised over $175,000 for dog-related nonprofits since 2019.

Hazel’s focus as a therapy animal is on children, with emphasis on grief.

• Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas (since 2018): Hazel started off working with children ages 6–18 but now specializes in children ages 3-6 (Little Hearts group). It’s the perfect group because of her small size.
• Christa Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital: Hazel provides support during pre-op for pediatric spinal procedures, followed by visits with patients and staff throughout the hospital.
• Thousand Oaks Elementary School: Working with kids from military families whose parents are deployed. Hazel was given the Superintendent’s Award for 2019 and 2022 (no awards were given during COVID restrictions).