Pet Connections

Pet Connections offers animal-assisted programs, community opportunities & employment for people with disabilities or other challenges.

Connecting animals and people is what Pet Connections is all about! Pet Connections, a division of Ontario ARC, combines the healing power of pets with socialization to provide a unique experience for each person. Pet Connections was created in 2012 as the first of its kind Animal Assisted Intervention (commonly known as pet therapy) resource specifically developed to benefit people with disabil

ities or other challenges. Pet Connections is expanding in the Fall of 2017 to include even more community volunteer opportunities by offering Animal Assisted Intervention volunteer certification and membership! Similar to national organizations, Pet Connections will offer certified volunteers with access to individualized volunteer opportunities, unique training and workshops as well as the same liability insurance coverage.

04/20/2026

Celebrating Our Heroes on Both Ends of the Leash! 🐾❤️

Here is Keegan visiting our Risser Road residence.

It’s National Volunteer Week, and we wanted to take a moment to thank our incredible volunteer handlers and canine companions who make our Pet Connections program possible.

We know it takes a lot of hard work to become a certified team, from mastering basic obedience and reading canine body language to completing facility evaluations, and we are so proud of the commitment you show to our community. You provide comfort, encourage social connection, and help improve the physical and emotional well-being of the people we support.

Please join us in saying THANK YOU to our human and four-legged volunteers in the comments below! 👇

Week

03/26/2026

ANOTHER LEVEL 1 CLASSES BEGINNING IN JULY!

REGISTER HERE: https://www.mypetconnections.org/education.html

Hosted by Pet Connections and Animal Assisted Therapy Professional
Gail Furst, CPDT KA

LEVEL 1 - JULY 6 | 6:00 PM
Using food and other rewards properly
Strengthen ability to work around household distractions
Relationship development for optimal success
Foundations of loose leash walking
Leashing up and manners at the door

01/22/2026

More than just a "Good Girl"... she's Certified!

We have a new graduate! Meet Stella, the latest pup to become a certified therapy dog through Pet Connections. Stella and her mom, Connie, recently visited Quail Summit, providing a friendly, furry cuddle to the residents there.

Our therapy dog teams visit schools, healthcare facilities, and senior living centers all over Ontario County to provide therapeutic support and companionship.

Interested in learning more about what our Pet Connections teams do? Visit us at thearcontario.org and mypetconnections.org

01/15/2026

ANOTHER LEVEL 1 CLASSES BEGINNING IN MARCH!

REGISTER HERE: https://www.mypetconnections.org/education.html

Hosted by Pet Connections and Animal Assisted Therapy Professional
Gail Furst, CPDT KA

LEVEL 1 - MARCH 9 | 7:15 PM
Using food and other rewards properly
Strengthen ability to work around household distractions
Relationship development for optimal success
Foundations of loose leash walking
Leashing up and manners at the door

01/01/2026

Happy New Year from all of us at Pet Connections! Ring in the New Year with a resolution you and your pup will love, keep an eye out for our next training!

12/30/2025

Happy Holidays from all of us at Pet Connections!

We want to thank all our amazing team and customers for a fantastic year.

12/08/2025

LEVEL 1 CLASSES BEGINNING IN JANUARY!

REGISTER HERE: https://www.mypetconnections.org/education.html

Hosted by Pet Connections and Animal Assisted Therapy Professional
Gail Furst, CPDT KA

LEVEL 1 - JANUARY 17 | 10 AM
Using food and other rewards properly
Strengthen ability to work around household distractions
Relationship development for optimal success
Foundations of loose leash walking
Leashing up and manners at the door

10/20/2025

Pet Connections (a division of The Arc Ontario) creates opportunities through animal-assisted programs, providing job training, community connections, and services like therapy dog certification.

This summer was exceptionally busy! Nine dogs completed Level 1 training on their path to certification. Even more impressively, 11 new handler-dog teams successfully passed their initial certification and are already actively volunteering across the region.

In August, for National Dog Month, our dedicated volunteer teams ramped up their community support, making special visits to The Arc Ontario’s Eberhardt Center, assisting with student orientation at Keuka College, and more.

09/11/2025

Karen Williams and her therapy dog Casey brought comfort and smiles to Keuka College yesterday. Thank you for your time Karen and Casey.

For more information regarding our services, visit PetConnections.org

08/26/2025

This morning was filled with joy and wagging tails at the Eberhardt Center!

Thank you to our wonderful Pet Connections volunteers and their amazing therapy dogs who brought so much joy and comfort to our participants. Your visits truly make a difference.

Thank you to:
Karen and Buster
Andy and Bennett
Helen and Elfie
Rita and Sammy

We are grateful for your time and for sharing your companions with us!

08/25/2025

Thank you to our wonderful Pet Connections volunteer teams, Karen and her dog Casey, and Lindsey with her dog Molly, for their visit to Thompson Hospital today!

Their time and compassion brought so many smiles to patients and staff. We are proud of our volunteers and the incredible comfort they provide to our community!

Address

Canandaigua, NY

Telephone

+15853947500

Website

http://mypetconnections.org/

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Our Story

Pet Connections was started in 2011 because Ontario ARC knew that the deep emotional bond between human and animal has the power to open doors, break down barriers, and create possibilities that never before existed.

Today, Pet Connections has evolved into a comprehensive, full-service set of programs. It is designed to reach not only the people with disabilities or other challenges but the community at large.

Learn more about us at mypetconnections.org!