Do you have an awesome therapy dog?
This is you and your therapeutic pup's time to shine as a VNA Pet Therapy Volunteer!
Volunteers are responsible for providing therapeutic non-medical support as needed to hospice patients and family members! This program aims to help relieve stress, provide comfort and increase the well-being of both patients and their support systems.
Human Qualifications:
- Completes the application packet, interview, volunteer training, health screen, background check, volunteer and dog receive personal VNA identification badge including name and picture, completes in-field volunteer training. Volunteer has a valid driver’s license, car insurance, and vehicle.
- Is in agreement with the hospice mission and philosophy and demonstrates capabilities, commitment, and drive to fulfill its goals with enthusiasm.
- Demonstrates acuity in the following: teamwork, communication, respect for individual belief systems, confidentiality, punctuality, reliability, empathy, and emotional health.
Therapy Dog Qualifications:
- Certification of good health from veterinarian, current health records, current vaccination requirements, fecal salmonella test (negative results required for admission), all updated annually.
- Current rabies, distemper or titer, hepatitis or titer, leptospirosis or titer, parainfluenza or titer, parvovirus or titer, fecal, heartworm, type of heartworm medications.
- Behavior certification & current membership at Therapy Dogs International.
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- Dogs must be at least 2 years old, or at the discretion of the certified evaluator, show proper acceptance of strangers, walk on a loose lead, able to walk through a crowd, sit and permit petting. Dogs must show no resentment, extreme shyness, panic, barking, nor aggressiveness. They must show no more than casual interest in another dog or distractions.
- Dogs must be bathed and groomed within 24 hours of the visit.
- The owner is responsible for cleaning up any elimination mishaps that occur inside or outside the patient location. Be prepared to remove any solid waste and dispose of properly.
- Bring a container from which your dog can drink.
