Sharing our pets to enhance well-being and education

New England Pet Partners, Inc.

Board Directors – Staff - Brief Bios - They are so much more!

Maureen Ross, MA, BS, NCC, CPDT-KA, LTE (Team Quin, Team Brio & Jesy in training) - NH

Founder of Dog Talk LLC (Training and Wellness Sanctuary). Co-founder of New England Pet Partners. dedicated to sharing our pets to enhance well-being and education. Author of Awareness Centered Training - ACT, Train Your Dog, Change Your Life, contributor to Children, Dogs and Education and publications on relationship, education and wellbeing for dogs and their humans, Moe enjoys raising awareness about the possibility and joy of living and learning with dogs. She is an active Pet Partner’s volunteer team and Licensed Team Evaluator. Visit Moe at Dog Talk, NEPP, Daily Doga and Facebook.

Gary Ross, ME, RPP, LTE (Team Quin & Jesy in training) - NH

Gary is a retired engineering fellow at Raytheon Company. He is a Licensed Team Evaluator for Pet Partners and Treasurer for New England Pet Partners. He discovered the joy of companion dogs when he met Moe in 1981. He had cats growing up. Once a canine owned him, the rest is history. In addition to his other activities, he is the “techie” and “maintenance” man for the training sanctuary, an operating business and good dog(s), cat(s) and parrot(s) parent (DooDad).  

Kathleen DeLong, RN, ACLS, PP, LTE, READ w Me (Team Kody) - MA

Kathy is a retired registered nurse at Lowell General Hospital with advanced training in intensive care and infectious diseases. She has presented for New England Pet Partners and Pet Partners on the benefits of pet assisted therapy, education, safety and infectious disease. Kathy is a Registered Pet Partner, Licensed Team Evaluator and Executive Director, Volunteer Training at NEPP. In collaboration with health care professionals, she has launched several pet therapy programs at hospitals, care facilities and schools. She eagerly mentors new teams and facilities guiding then to create safe and effective pet therapy programs.

Mary Bowler-Blake, RPP, READ W ME (Team Summer) - SC

Mary worked for the Internal Revenue Service for over 35 years and ten years working in Assisted Living. She now lives in Chapin, SC. She continues to support NEPP as our Secretary. Along with her partner, Summer, she is promotion Pet Partner Programs in SC, and actively visiting. As a a registered pet partner with Lady, Sunnie and Summer, she was an active volunteer at several care facilities and universities. They have appeared in segments on Pet Assisted Therapy including Chronicle - WMUR, NEPP Presents and Simon’s Mall (Fox, Channel 7 and 5).

Joan Whitebook, JD, Realtor - NH

Joan is a a Real Estate Agent at Masiello and NEPP’s Chair. Her expertise with boards, the Chamber and legal advice, keeps NEPP on a forward track with integrity. She is our “Robert Rules” guide. She has been involved with classical ballet, a psychology major, an attorney/mediator, exclusive buyer’s and real estate agent, wife and pet therapy advocate.

Liz Harrington - MD

Liz was a teacher for many  years. She is the founder of Harrington Consultants – Focusing Safety. Liz has relocated to Maryland and remains close to the NEPPERS as our Facebook Team Group Administrator. Liz is an experienced volunteer. Among her many talents, she has been working with adopted dogs including her beloved Beckie, Jango and Lando. Learn more about Liz at Facebook.

Anne Gagnon, RPP Potential Team Lucy - MA

Anne is a retired as a Sr. Commercial Lending Representative at Peoples United Bank. She became involved with NEPP when taking a class at Dog Talk. Anne has been a registered pet partner since 2008 with Brandy and Bo visiting facilities and volunteering at NEPP. She is currently training her Cattle Dog Lucy. Anne was our fearless leader, fund-raising for the Pet Wellness Festival for 13 years. She is an integral part of NEPP’s growth as a long time board director and mentor.   

Diane Matte, Ph.D., Ed.D (Team Smudge) - NH

Diane is a retired teacher (40 years) who works part time as an Interventionist for the Lowell, MA School Department. She has been a Board Director for the Lowell Chapter of Reading since 1993. As a Registered Pet Partner with her Cocker Spaniel, Smudge, Diane is interested in bringing more Pet Partner Teams into the lives of children. She visits with autistic and visually impaired children.

Austin O’Brien, M.D. (Team Benton) - FL

Dr. O’Brien recently retired as a family medical doctor at Lahey Primary Care Organization, Lowell, MA. Benton often accompanied Austin to work. He is experienced working in the hospital and health care industry and skilled in event planning, Microsoft Excel, customer service, Microsoft Word and coaching. A strong business development professional with a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Austin focused in Family Medicine from Memorial University of Newfoundland. We are proud to have him on our team.

Shirley Holdman, Author - MA

Shirley is an empowered woman, Emerson Graduate and active community leader! She has been a Registered Pet Partner and Read w Me with her Bichon Giggles for years. Her experience shines as the author of several books including The Adventure Series with Giggles and Owen (Amazon) and cultural diversity, children and dogs. She volunteers for NEPP sharing her wisdom of fund-raising and connecting communities for good causes, including events in her home town of Billerica, MA. We are honored to have her vivacious personality and wisdom at NEPP.  

Lisa Boyon, BS - NH

Lisa has volunteered for New England Pet Partners, with daughter, for years. She has her BS in Marketing from Central Connecticut University. As an executive assistant at Saint Anselm College, she supported college advancement with fund-raising efforts. Lisa has experience with focus groups and eczema workshops at Boston Children’s Hospital. She is passionate about whatever she chooses to focus her energy on including speaking at the NH State House to raise awareness about eczema. This resulted in a Proclamation declaring October 2023 an Eczema awareness month in NH. We are lucky to have Lisa’s experience and interest in wanting to make a difference with pet assisted therapy.