​How do I know if my pet is suitable for Animal-Assisted Therapy?

You could be living with a future Therapy Animal if the following statements are true:

• Your pet is even tempered, well behaved and under control. S/he is reliable and tolerant .
• Your pet enjoys interacting with and being touched by people.
• Your pet is non-aggressive toward people and other animals.
• Your pet has lived with you for at least six months (birds – one year) at the time of testing.
• Your pet is at least one year old and current on its rabies vaccination at the time of testing.
• You are able to bathe or have your pet bathed before visits.
• Your pet lives mainly indoors.
• Your pet will be able to follow basic obedience commands – ‘Heel’, ‘Sit’, ‘Down’, ‘Stay’, ‘Come’ and ‘Leave it’. (different for animals other than dogs)

​The first three personality attributes are important for your animal to enjoy participating in therapy work.  Training is important too, but it is on-going.  Don’t hesitate to take the Pet Partners Beginning Handlers Training Course while your animal is still young.  It’s easier to train for your goal if you know where you’re going! The trainers listed on our Partners and Friends page have classes specifically to help you train your animal for therapy work. For more details about your pet’s suitability, please email TAU at [email protected] or call (801) 706-1389. Or see the Pet Partners website: http://www.petpartners.org