LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Alzheimer’s Association has partnered with Senior Home Transitions, a senior living placement service, to host a Pets Against Alzheimer’s Walk, or “PAAW,” on July 13 in Louisville.

Joy Tabler and Rocco love going for a walk in the park. Rocco is a four-year-old miniature horse that is in training to be a therapy pony. Soon, Rocco will go to nursing homes and other facilities hoping to make their day a little brighter.

Tabler says pet therapy can benefit in several stages of Alzheimer’s.

“In the earlier stages, it’s kind of a companionship. It helps provide a meaning and a purpose to get up every day to provide care and unconditional love And if that individual becomes unable to care for that pet, there’s still a lot of sensory benefits from holding, touching stoking an animal,” she said.

Tabler works with Senior Home Transitions. 

Tabler and Rocco will be at the Pets Against Alzheimer’s Walk, an event dedicated to help people impacted by the disease.

 “It’s so important. All of our fundraising — 78% of everything raised goes back into the association for education, support groups, our 24 hour support line,” said Miranda Tirbs, Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Louisville and Southern Indiana’s walk coordinator.

The hope is to raise money to donate to the Alzheimer’s Association to fund research and make strides toward the ultimate goal: a cure.

The event is Saturday, July 13, from 8 a.m. to noon at E.P. Tom Sawyer state park in Louisville.

The Alzheimer’s Associations says 81,000 people aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s in Kentucky.