1. Welcome to Volunteering with Your Pet
Presented by [Your Name(s)]
Welcome
This presentation is designed to orient you to the Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program as a way of volunteering in the community with your pet.
Pet Partners is a national volunteer organization with approximately 11,000 teams in 48 states as well as Canada. Our mission is to be the leader in promoting and demonstrating that positive human-animal interactions improve the physical, emotional and psychological lives of those we serve.
Introduce yourself: your role with Pet Partners (handler, instructor, evaluator), your teammate (name and species), how long you’ve been visiting as a Pet Partners team, examples of places you visit
©2014 Pet Partners®

2. Goals for this Session You will learn:
What animals can participate as therapy animal teams
The commitment and training needed for handlers
Steps to become a registered therapy animal team with Pet Partners
Therapy animal teams come in all shapes and sizes and they visit in many different settings
We’ll discuss the requirements for both animals and handlers
This session will help you decide if it is time to get started on the process to become a Pet Partners therapy animal team

3. Places Therapy Animal Teams Visit
Hospitals
Retirement Homes
Rehab Centers
Hospices
Schools
Pet Partners teams visit in a variety of locations and with a wide range of client types
Any of these settings can be extremely rewarding, but the overarching consideration is what setting will be the best match for you and your animal.

4. Types of Therapy Animal Visits
Social Visits
Physical/Occupational Therapy Sessions
Reading Programs
Stress Breaks
Some visits are social in nature. They could be just chance to make conversation, cheer someone up, reduce their stress or provide a welcome distraction.
Other visits are more structured, for example when a team works with a physical therapist and brushing the dog is an exercise for the patient.
Reading programs are also popular in schools and libraries where kids practice reading aloud to animals, who are generally good listeners and never correct your pronunciation. Additionally colleges are embracing stress relief events during finals weeks where teams are invited to provide study breaks.
Visits that have the oversight of a medical professional and are goal oriented are considered animal-assisted therapy, or AAT. Visits which are social or even educational in nature are considered animal-assisted activities or AAA. Pet Partners teams can provide both AAA and AAT, depending on where they visit.

5. Pet Partners Accepted Species
Dogs
Birds
Cats
Pigs
Horses
Llamas/ Alpacas
Rabbits
Rats
Guinea Pigs
Pet Partners registers 9 different species of animals for therapy work. The most popularly registered animals are dogs, cats and horses.
Wild or exotic animals, such as snakes, ferrets and lizards, aren’t eligible for registration as therapy animals. In addition, domesticated farm animals, such as chickens, ducks and goats, aren’t currently eligible. Without research to document their behavior over time, we can’t evaluate their predictability and reaction to stress.

6. About Dog Breeds
Any breed of dog can be a therapy animal, if it has the skills and aptitude.
Pet Partners has no breed restrictions. A dog of any breed or mix of domesticated breeds can participate, provided that its presence doesn’t violate local animal control laws. Wolf hybrids, however, are not permitted.

7. Is My Animal Eligible? How old is your animal?
How long have you owned your animal?
Is your animal house trained?
Will your animal wear a collar/harness and leash?
What kind of diet does your animal eat?
Does your animal have a history of aggression?
How is your animal’s health? Are they taking medications?
Does your animal have obedience skills?
Let’s review these eligibility questions to determine if your animal can pursue joining the Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program!
Animals must be at least 1 year old with the exception of pocket pets. Rabbits, guinea pigs and rats must be at least 6 months old.
Birds must have lived in the owner’s home for at least 1 year. All other animals must have lived with the owner for at least 6 months.
Animals must be reliably house-trained. For infection control purposes, waste collection devices worn by the animal aren’t considered acceptable equipment, regardless of whether visits occur indoors or outdoors. The one exception to this policy is that birds may wear flight suits. 
All animals must be on a leash at all times. This includes small animals such as birds, rabbits, guinea pigs and rats.
Animals may not be fed a raw protein diet and animals with a history of aggression towards people or other pets are not eligible to participate. This includes animals who have been trained for bite work, such as Schutzhund.
For the safety of your animal and the people you visit, your animal should be in good health and free of internal and external parasites. Animals may not be on antibiotics, antifungals or immunosuppressive medications when they evaluate or visit, but once they complete those medications, they are welcome to participate.
If your animal meets these other requirements and has basic obedience skills, this may be a good fit for you.
It is possible to volunteer with an animal that is not your pet. The requirements for animals remain the same and you must have the pet owner’s permission.

8. A Successful Therapy Animal is:
People-oriented, sociable, and friendly
Has good basic obedience skills
Remains calm in stressful situations
Non-aggressive towards animals and people
Comfortable being touched, at times awkwardly
In addition to enjoying people, good therapy animals accept interactions in a pleasant, forgiving or welcoming manner as opposed to just tolerating them.
They demonstrates species appropriate body language that indicates interest and relaxation such as, for a dog, friendly tail wagging, a soft body and relaxed face.
And they reliably respond to their handler’s cues, even if there are distractions. If your animal looks to you when they are unsure, nervous or need guidance, you have a strong bond that is an important component of being a therapy animal team.

9. A Successful Handler
Friendly, professional and polite in their interactions with people
Has a strong relationship with their animal that lets them predict and redirect their animal’s behavior
Ensures their animal’s well-being at all times
Commits to following Pet Partners standards and procedures
The primary role of the handler is to be the animal’s “guardian.” You are your animal’s best advocate. This means you will be responsible for making decisions about what is and isn’t appropriate during the visit.
It will be your job to be sure your animal is in good health, and properly groomed, and that your animal is enjoying the interactions with those you visit. In the end, don’t be surprised if everyone knows you by your animal’s name.

10. Therapy Animal Teams are Volunteers
Pet Partners is a volunteer organization. All therapy animal handlers, licensed instructors and team evaluators are volunteers in their community committed to promoting animal assisted interactions.
Once you are registered, you will be able to approach facilities in your own community where you can offer to volunteer as a therapy animal team.  
You will also need to follow all the volunteer requirements of the site where you choose to volunteer. This may include completing a volunteer application and background check, health requirements and additional training or orientations.

11. The Commitment
You arrange visits yourself, based on your schedule and availability
Time to prepare for visits
Bathing and grooming
Time to unwind after a visit
As a Pet Partners volunteer, it is up to you to choose where you would like to volunteer and how often. Some teams visit once a week or more, other teams visit less frequently.
Although visits never exceed 2 hours a day, remember that you will spend time preparing for your visit, including bathing and grooming your animal before each visit.
And you’ll want to reserve some time after a visit to unwind with your pet, whether that’s playing or just cuddling, after a job well done.

12. Training to Become a Team
Pet Partners does not train animals. You select the methods best suited to you and your animal.
Depending on your animal’s level of obedience, you may decide you need to work on some of these skills before pursuing your registration with Pet Partners.
Pet Partners does not offer animal training and does not require the completion of an animal training class. You may choose to take a class, if that works best for you and your animal.
Basic Obedience and Good Manners include:
Can walk on a loose leash near their handler
Responds reliably to common commands appropriate to their species such as sit, down, stay, come and leave it for dogs
Does not jump up on people or equipment/furniture
Does not vocalize inappropriately and can be stopped by the handler (Aggressive barking is never acceptable)
Is reliably house broken
Takes treats nicely
Does not mouth or lick people during interactions
Does not become overly rambunctious when being petted
Can walk past other animals without displaying aggression or excessive fear
Does not demonstrate “nosey” or intrusive behavior, such as begging for treats, exuberantly sniffing strangers, sticking their nose into bags, purses, waste baskets, etc.

13. How to Become a Pet Partners Therapy Animal Team
Step 1: Take the Pet Partners’ Handler Course either in-person or online. Step 2: Have your veterinarian complete a health screening of your animal. Step 3: Complete an evaluation of your human- animal team’s skills & aptitude. Step 4: Submit your registration application.
Before beginning step one you should search for a licensed Team Evaluator in your area. Although Pet Partners is active in 48 states, we aren’t in every community. You will need access to an in-person evaluation in order to become registered.

14. Step 1: Handler Training
The Pet Partners’ Therapy Animal Handler Course concentrates on the human end of the leash.
While there can be something “magical” about the interactions between humans and animals there is actually a lot to know about how to accomplish that “magical” moment successfully.
In the Pet Partners' Therapy Animal Handler Course handlers learn the skills needed to visit safely as well as what to expect from their team evaluation, so they can prepare for success.
Successful completion of this course, in instructor-led or online format, is required for registration as a therapy animal team.

15. Handler Course Training Options:
In-person & Instructor-led
The Pet Partners' Therapy Animal Handler Course is presented as an eight-hour workshop. Students receive a copy of the Pet Partners Handler Student Guide which will be a resource for you as you prepare for your evaluation as well as once you begin visiting. Workshops are scheduled throughout the year in locations all over the country. All workshops are taught by licensed instructors. To find a Pet Partners' Therapy Animal Handler Course near you visit the Pet Partners website.

16. Handler Course Training Options:
Online & self-guided
If there are not workshops in your area, or your schedule requires a more flexible approach to training, you can take the Handler Course online.
The online course includes a downloadable student guide and additional support documents, with interactive activities, video, and knowledge checks to reinforce learning that will help handlers understand the necessary skills to visit safely and successfully.
Students that complete and pass the overall assessment will receive a certificate of completion and move to the next step in registration.

17. Step 2: Animal Health Screening
Form completed by your veterinarian
Proof of rabies vaccination
Birds, guinea pigs, rabbits and rats are exempt
Free of parasites
Physically able to participate
At Pet Partners the health and safety of your animal is important to us. In order to participate in the therapy animal program, your veterinarian must sign the animal health screening form.
Your animal should be in good health to participate and not currently taking any antibiotics, antifungals or immunosuppressive medications.
For the facilities where you will be visiting, they want to ensure your animal will not pose a risk to any of their clients, so your animal should be free of internal and external parasites. Additionally, dogs, cats, horses, llamas/alpacas and pigs must be vaccinated against rabies.

18. The Evaluation process tests the animal and handler as a team.
Step 3: Evaluation
The Evaluation process tests the animal and handler as a team.
Evaluations are individual sessions with the prospective team and a licensed Pet Partners evaluator. They typically last about 45 minutes and resemble a role play, like what you might experience while you are on a visit.
During the team evaluation we’ll be looking at how well the handler interprets and manages the animal's behavior and how well the animal responds to the handler. The emphasis is that the animal is under control at all times and the team inspires confidence in those it interacts with.
You can get one of two scores on your evaluation, predictable or complex, depending on your team’s performance. Complex teams are better suited to more dynamic situations where there is a higher level of activity and less staff involvement. Predictable teams visit in environments where the level of activity is appropriate for the team’s ability level.  Regardless of your evaluation rating, all teams benefit those they visit through AAA or AAT.
At no time will your animal be put in a situation that is dangerous. The Pet Partners Team Evaluators who conduct the evaluations are trained by Pet Partners and know that the well-being of animals comes first, no matter what. At no point during the evaluation will animals be hurt or intentionally frightened.

19. Evaluation Skills Test
The Skills Test shows whether the animal can be controlled by the handler and follow basic commands.
During the Skills portion of the evaluation the focus will be demonstrating basic obedience skills, even amid distraction. Your animal will need to walk on a leash without pulling, respond to your cues and walk past a dog without showing aggression or excessive fear. Additionally, you’ll need to interact and role play with the evaluator while showing you can be attentive to your animal.

20. Evaluation Aptitude Test
The Aptitude Test is designed to simulate conditions you may encounter on a visit.
In the Aptitude portion of the evaluation you will be assessed on how well you interact with the evaluator and evaluator's assistants as you simulate being on a visit. You’ll be expected to help support and encourage your animal as they meet strangers, some of whom may use medical equipment, speak loudly or move erratically. This helps determine the most appropriate environment for you and your animal to visit.
During this portion of the evaluation how you demonstrate your handler skills will be as important as demonstrating the animal’s aptitude.

21. Step 4: Submit Your Registration
The final step once you have completed:
Handler course
Animal health screening
Evaluation
Once you have completed your Handler Coursework, had your vet sign the animal health screening form and successfully passed your evaluation, you can submit your registration.
Timely completion of your registration packet demonstrates that you are familiar with and ready to follow all the policies and procedures of Pet Partners’ Therapy Animal Program.
Believe it or not, submitting the registration packet in a timely manner can be a stumbling block for some people. A team evaluation is only valid for 90-days, therefore it is vital that all your paperwork is compiled and returned prior to that expiration deadline.
Once your registration has been received, reviewed and processed by Pet Partners, you will receive a photo ID badge with your ID number and expiration date. Teams must renew every two years with Pet Partners.

22. Benefits of Registration with Pet Partners
Liability Insurance
Photo ID and tag
Access to continuing education and resources
Pet Partners Magazine
Satisfaction of helping others
Benefits of becoming a registered therapy animal team include
· $2 million primary liability insurance when volunteering.
· Identification badge for handler and collar tag for animal.
· Access to free continuing education courses that help you be more effective visiting clients.
· Referral to facilities searching for therapy animal teams.
· Pet Partners Interactions Magazine
· Access to licensed Evaluators and Instructors as local resources.
· Support from the Pet Partners office.
· You will also have the satisfaction of helping people in need in your own community!
The greatest benefit is knowing that you are part of the highly esteemed program that set the standards for incorporating animals in medical care.

23. For more information visit the Pet Partners’ website at www
For more information visit the Pet Partners’ website at
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