Board of Directors

Dr. Caroline Spark is co-owner of Instinct Dog Behavior & Training, Portland, where she also serves as Director of Behavior and Training. She has over 45 years of experience helping people solve problems, meet learning goals, and achieve positive change. With a PhD in psychology, a background in counseling, adult education and group facilitation, and multiple dog training qualifications. She is a certified dog behavior consultant through the International Association for Animal Behavior Consultants and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, and has extensive experience helping individuals and families with dog behavior problems, and training dogs for family life, service work, and animal-assisted therapy.

​

 Caroline has volunteered with three successive Pet Partner dogs over the past 20 years, visiting people in transitional housing, assisted living, hospital, and hospice. She provides support for PPOC teams and teams-in-training, through virtual and in-person training groups. She lives in the beautiful Yachats River valley with her partner, Julie, an energetic Australian Cattle Dog named Rocket (a retired Pet Partner who decided that country life was more her style), barn cats, and chickens.

I have been a supporter and admirer of Pet Partners (formerly the Delta Society) since I first met Dr. Bill McCulloch, co-founder, in early 1993.  I became a registered team with my Cavadoodles, Karisto (2008) and Philia (2011) and made visits until their retirement in 2020.

​

Now I am proud to be sharing Toby, my 3rd registered therapy dog, also a Cavadoodle, since 2023. In all my years of volunteer work with various non-profits, ranging from an independent elementary school to recycling leadership to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, I have benefitted most especially from sharing my beloved dogs with hospital patients and staff. Several years ago, at a Pet Partner fundraising event I said that, "The power of this work is in its simplicity.” I continue to feel the great rewards that this work offers.

Erica has always been a pet lover and supported animal organizations.  She has been a volunteer at the Lincoln County Animal Shelter since 2006, a Board member with Friends of Lincoln County Animals since 2009 and a Board member with PPOC since 2013-ish (way back when they were still Oregon Coast Therapy Animals).  While not participating as a part of a visiting team, Erica supports the PPOC goals and mission and is happy to help in any way to allow teams to accomplish their community engagement.

Hi, my name is Lee and my pet partner is a nine-month-old mini- Australian Labradoodle, named Ocean.  I retired to Lincoln Beach five years ago.  I grew up until age twelve in Southern California and knew I wanted to spend my retirement years by the ocean.

I am a retired therapist and have seen the benefits of therapy dogs in action over the years, so when our last dog passed away, I decided to find a dog that could assist me in doing pet therapy. I liked the doodle breed and found a breeder in Dundee, Oregon.  She was bred to have a good temperament and to like people.  Good things to have as a therapy dog. We got Ocean in February, 2021.

I have been volunteering for various organizations over the years, but ocean conservation and mental health issues are two of my passions. I feel Ocean helps me combine these passions.  When people ask me about Ocean’s name, I have the opportunity to talk about the importance of taking care of our oceans and of course her pet therapy work opens up conversations about mental health and how mental health is about connecting and caring. And how dogs, as nonjudgmental gifts know all about love and connecting.

Late in 2014, Emma was adopted from the same national Giant Schnauzer rescue as her two predecessors, Gypsy Rose and Zorro.  Not quite a year old (with a Valentine’s birthday), she was given the name Emma May but as she grew up and into her strong-willed ways, it was changed to Emma May or May Not!  Luckily for us both, one thing she always wanted to do was to interact with people, family and friends but also anyone she came across on our daily walks.  What better way to volunteer than with my beloved bestie bringing her cold wet nose and a smile to those who didn’t even realize they needed it!  Thank you, Pet Partners!!

I was first introduced to animal therapy in 2000 when I decided to become a Hospice volunter with my black labrador, Misty.  We had many years of visits to hospice patients in the hospital, assisted living and private homes.  Misty was a born therapy dog.  

​

When Misty passed, I starting looking for my next therapy dog.  Shadow was available through a labrador rescue organization.  It was love at first sight.  Shadow was a small lab and must of had excellent obience training when I adopted her.  She passed her test with Hospice and spent many years visiting and assisting recovering brain injury patients.  As long as she could retrieve a ball, she was thrilled.  The therapists at the recovery center used Shadow's ball catching talents with the patients. 

My next therapy dog was a yellow labrador, Riley.  She was 1-1/2 yrs old when I adopted her.  She came to me with no training and no social manners.  We worked hard and trained constantly.  After moving to Oregon, I found the local Pet Partner group and with their help, Riley passed her Evaluation after 2 attempts.  

​

I eat and sleep animal therapy because it is so rewarding to watch our teams bring so much joy and comfort to our community.