Volunteering with Your Pet Sample Script

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Brenda Lawson
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1 Volunteering with Your Pet Sample Script 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 Goals for this session At the end of this session, you will have learned What animals are eligible to 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. This session will help you decide if it is time to get started on the process to become a Pet Partners therapy animal team. Places Therapy Animal Teams Visit Pet Partners teams visit in a variety of locations and with a wide range of client types. Examples include hospitals, retirement homes, rehab centers, hospices, school, libraries and more. 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. Types of Therapy Animal Visits 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 therapy dog is an exercise for the patient Pet Partners - All Rights Reserved Page 1 of 8 APR2014

2 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. Accepted Species Pet Partners registers 9 different species of animals for therapy work. The most popularly registered animals are dogs, cats and horses. But we also welcome rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, llamas and alpacas, miniature pigs, and rats. 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 these species predictability and reaction to stress. 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. Eligibility Pet Partners does have some requirements about what makes an animal eligible to participate as part of the 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 Pet Partners - All Rights Reserved Page 2 of 8 APR2014

3 For the safety of your animal and the people you visit, animals may not be on antibiotics, antifungals or immunosuppressive medications. 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 also possible to volunteer with an animal that is not your pet, if you have known them for at least 6 months. The requirements for animals remain the same and you must have the pet owner s permission. What Makes a Successful Therapy Animal? Therapy animals are People-oriented, sociable, and friendly Have good basic obedience skills Remain calm in stressful situations Are non-aggressive towards animals and people Are 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. What Makes a Successful Handler? Strong handlers of a therapy animal team: Are friendly, professional and polite in their interactions with people Have a strong relationship with their animal that lets them predict and redirect their animal s behavior Ensure their animal s well-being at all times 2014 Pet Partners - All Rights Reserved Page 3 of 8 APR2014

4 Commit 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 and as a result you will have to make 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! 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. The Commitment As a Pet Partners volunteer, it is up to you to choose where you would like to volunteer and how often. You will arrange visits directly with your facility based on their needs and your schedule. Some teams visit once a week, 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. Training to Become a Team 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. It is your responsibility to select the method best suited to you and your animal Pet Partners - All Rights Reserved Page 4 of 8 APR2014

5 Basic Obedience Skills Before starting the process to become a therapy animal team, make sure your animal has command of these basic good manners. 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 o 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. How to Become a Pet Partners Therapy Animal Team Before beginning training 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 inperson evaluation in order to become registered. 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. Step 1: Handler Training 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 concentrates on the human end of the leash. Handlers learn the skills needed to visit safely as well as what to expect from their team evaluation, so they can prepare for success. 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 2014 Pet Partners - All Rights Reserved Page 5 of 8 APR2014

6 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. 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. Successful completion of this course, in instructor-led or online format, is required for registration as a therapy animal team. Step 2: Animal Health Screening 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. Step 3: Evaluation 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. The evaluation process tests the animal and handler as a team. 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 Pet Partners - All Rights Reserved Page 6 of 8 APR2014

7 PPST The first portion of the evaluation is the skills test. 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. PPAT Pet Partners Aptitude Test is designed to simulate conditions you may encounter on a visit. It helps determine the most appropriate environment for you and your animal to visit. During this test 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. During this portion of the evaluation how you demonstrate your handler skills will be as important as demonstrating the animal s aptitude. Step 4: Submit Your Registration 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 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. Benefits of Registration with Pet Partners 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 - All Rights Reserved Page 7 of 8 APR2014

8 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. For More Information Visit: Contact: Like us on Facebook at Pet Partners - All Rights Reserved Page 8 of 8 APR2014

Volunteering with Your Pet Script

Volunteering with Your Pet Script (slide 1) 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. We ll