Gulfport Hosts Pet Partners Membership Drive

Visiting Pet Teams of South Mississippi holds festival at Barksdale Pavilion

Mar. 17, 2026 at 5:26am

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Gulfport, Mississippi's Barksdale Pavilion was the site of a membership drive hosted by Visiting Pet Teams of South Mississippi on Saturday. The festival helped raise awareness and recruit volunteers for the organization, which provides animal-assisted therapy visits.

Why it matters

Pet therapy programs like Visiting Pet Teams play an important role in communities, providing comfort and companionship to those in need. The membership drive helps ensure the organization can continue its work and expand its reach across the Gulf Coast region.

The details

The Visiting Pet Teams of South Mississippi festival featured live music, food vendors, and activities for both people and their pets. The event aimed to recruit new volunteers to join the organization's team of handlers who bring their specially trained animals to visit hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities.

  • The festival took place on Saturday, March 17, 2026.

The players

Visiting Pet Teams of South Mississippi

A nonprofit organization that provides animal-assisted therapy visits across the Gulf Coast region.

Barksdale Pavilion

An outdoor event venue located in Gulfport, Mississippi.

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The takeaway

Community-based pet therapy programs like Visiting Pet Teams play a vital role in supporting the wellbeing of those in need, and events like this membership drive help ensure these important services can continue and expand.