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Becoming a Therapy Animal Team

​Do you desire to help children develop confidence and a love for reading? Or do you long to provide furry comfort and love to a hospital patient or a lonely senior? Or have you recognized how well your pet relieves your stress and you’d like to share that benefit with others in a workplace or school? Or do you want to share the strong human-animal bond that you experience with your pet?

​These are just a few of the reasons that people volunteer with therapy animals. Once they start volunteering, many continue to volunteer for as long as possible because it is so rewarding to see the comfort, love, hope, and healing that non-judgmental therapy animals provide. Therapy animals are often able to touch hearts and provide acceptance and motivation that surpasses what humans alone can.
Although more than 90% of therapy animals are dogs, social cats and a variety of other species can become therapy animals! Click here for a list of animals that can be registered for animal-assisted therapy - << LINK >>
​WHAT QUALITIES DOES A PET NEED TO BECOME A THERAPY ANIMAL? 
  • All therapy animals need to enjoy being with people, so socialization is very important. If your pet seems shy initially but enjoys people after getting to know them, try socializing your pet in brief increments while supporting him or her in various settings as long as your pet is comfortable with it.
  • Dogs need to know basic obedience skills, such as Sit, Stay, etc. Performing tricks isn’t necessary, but many volunteers have found that tricks are entertaining and help to engage the people that you and your animal will be visiting.
  • Your pet must enjoy grooming, because therapy animals must be clean and well-groomed, and their claws clipped and smoothed to remove sharp edges.  
​HOW DO WE GET STARTED BECOMING A THERAPY ANIMAL TEAM?
  1. First, complete the Pet Partners online Handler Training course. This is the only required training that you must complete if you’ll be volunteering for Utah Pet Partners with a therapy animal. The course can be taken at your own pace and convenience. To register for the course, sign up for a free Volunteer Page at petpartners.org 
  2. Second, after you complete the Pet Partners online Handler Training course, your pet needs to have a medical exam. For the well-being of our clients, your pet and yourself, your pet must be in good health and pass a health examination that is conducted by a veterinarian.
  3. After you’ve completed the first two steps above, and you feel that you and your pet are ready, schedule a Team Evaluation to see if you and your pet have the necessary skills and aptitude. Check our calendar for dates, times and locations of Team Evaluations www.TherapyAnimalsUtah.org/calendar.html Register for your Team Evaluation by logging into your free Volunteer Page at petpartners.org and signing up there for your evaluation.
    If you’d like additional training before attempting your Team Evaluation, Utah Pet Partners provides optional training that is supplemental to the online Pet Partners Handler training. Free online classes that we offer are: Volunteering with Your Pet, Being the Best for Your Pet, and Handling Skills for Safe Visits. A few times each year we also conduct an in-person Hands-On Handler Practicum. Check our website calendar at www.TherapyAnimalsUtah.org/calendar.html for dates and times of classes and registration instructions. All of Utah Pet Partners classes are instructor-led and questions are encouraged.
  4. After you pass your Team Evaluation, we’ll provide you with instructions for registering as a team with our parent organization, Pet Partners!
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It is our goal to help new potential volunteers understand the skills that are required to pass the Pet Partners Team Evaluation. We also provide mentoring for new teams. We want you to be successful and enjoy volunteering with your pet! ​
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