About Us

Provides leadership and support to Board and all Members.

Allan has been a registered Pet Partners handler since 2015 with his Standard Poodle Lucy. Allan and Lucy regularly visit hospital and hospice patients in the Central Arkansas area. Allan says, “I love watching Lucy quietly work a hospital room. The simple, unconditional affection of a dog like Lucy can bring an amazing amount of comfort to a hospital patient and their family.”

Allan and Lucy became a registered Animal Assisted Crisis Response team in 2018. As an AACR team, they have visited with students and faculty at school shooting scenes, victims and first responders at tornado scenes, and unaccompanied teenage migrants in a government children’s center in Texas.

Allan lives in Little Rock with his wife Karen and their five Standard Poodles, Lucy, Coco, Lilly, Danny, and Ginger. Allan and Karen have two grown daughters, Lori and Elizabeth, and four grandchildren, Charlie, Sam, Andy, and Tallulah Jane.

Serves as the contact person for facilities with existing animal assisted intervention programs and those requesting program development. Teaches Pet Partner Handler Workshops.

Georgann began as a Pet Partners Handler in 1996. And is now also Instructor and Evaluator. Labrador Retriever Yeti is her seventh therapy dog and current Pet Partner. In addition to Pet Partners visits, Yeti is “co-therapist” in Georgann’s Social Work Private Practice and “assistant instructor” at UALR Graduate School of Social Work when Georgann teaches the elective “Animal Assisted Therapy in Social Work Practice”. Yeti loves to dock dive. She says, “The human-animal bond is such an important force in our society that it is an honor to practice and share about it in so many ways.”

Maintains corporate records and all minutes of both General Meetings and Board Meetings. Facilitates and responds to Memorials given to Pet Partners of Central Arkansas.

Ben is retired from the Transportation Industry and lives in Little Rock, Arkansas with his wife Georgann and is “owned by” three dogs (Hank, Edge and Scout). Ben is a Pet Partners member and visits with his standard poodle Edge and enjoys Agility with (Cardigan Corgi) Scout. Hank (All American) maintains control of all. In June 2014, Ben became a certified Team Leader for HOPE AACR (Animal Assisted Crises Response) a group that responds to crises situations and disasters and offers Hope and Encouragement through Animal Assisted interaction. In addition to activities with his dogs, Ben enjoys activities with his six grown children and nine grandchildren.

Organizes and oversees community fundraising, service events, and group social events.

This position covers a wide variety of areas, of which one is fundraising. The goal is to find an event that is fun for all and raises money at the same time. She see it as a win/win. Debbie also oversees “Pawtales” where we share our experiences with Pet Therapy visits, so we can all learn from one another, and “PetTips” where we share useful information that each team may someday need.

Debbie McCollough is a retired kindergarten and First Grade teacher. Presently, she is a certified Spiritual Director with the Diocese of Little Rock and has been a member of Pet Partners since 2015. She enjoys it and looks forward to each and every visit and event. At present, Debbie has two active therapy dogs and one retired therapy dog. You’ll also find her volunteering with Gallant-Hearts Guide Dog center as breeder, puppy raiser and Puppy Raiser Coordinator. 

As Education Director Margaret is responsible for arranging informational and education activities to be presented during CAPP community meetings. She serves new members as they begin volunteering by answering questions and pairing them with mentors.

Margaret became a Pet Partner Handler in 2013. Currently she volunteers with Winston and Augie. They are both adorable but sassy long haired dachshunds. Margaret visits at Arkansas Childrens Hospital, Univ of Ar for Medical Sciences, Pinnacle Pointe Behavioral Health Hospital and Methodist Family Health residential facility. Both Augie and Winston are registered as Animal Assisted Crisis Response animals and have done week long call outs to give a bit of kindness and cheer to unaccompanied minors at an immigration facility.

In addition to serving as the Education Director, Margaret assists the evaluation director by managing the equipment needed and arranging volunteers for evaluations. Her other duty is to mail birthday cards for CAPP members and their animal.

Margaret is a retired Speech Language Pathologist who spent her career working with children. She is married to Steve Strickland and lives in Little Rock. They have two adult children who live out of state.