Therapaws in General
- How does Therapaws of Michigan, Inc. (Therapaws) work?
- How does Therapaws rate?
- What's the difference between Therapy Dogs Incorporated and Therapaws of Michigan, Inc.?
- What is Therapaws to R.E.A.D.?
- Do you take other animals such as cats, rabbits, llamas, or ponies to visit people?
- Do you work with any other therapy dog-related groups?
How does Therapaws of Michigan, Inc. (Therapaws) work?
Individual owner-dog teams visit patients and residents in hospitals, extended care and assisted living facilities, rehabilitation centers, psych centers, and other care centers for regularly scheduled visits. Emphasis is placed on one-on-one interaction with the dog who becomes a bridge for communication, motivation, encouragement, and empathy.
How does Therapaws rate?
Therapaws is a winner of the Community Service Award of the Michigan Veterinary Medical Association for Outstanding Animal-Facilitated Therapy, the recipient of dozens of certificates of excellence and appreciation, and the subject of several newspaper and magazine articles.
More important, we have been invited to, and currently visit, more than 40 settings in Ann Arbor and surrounding communities. These include various floors, departments, and units within the University of Michigan Hospitals, including Mott Children's Hospital, St. Joseph Mercy Hospitals, and the Veterans Administration Hospital as well as dozens of extended care and assisted living facilities, psych centers, rehabilitation centers, and schools and libraries.
What's the difference between Therapy Dogs Incorporated and Therapaws of Michigan, Inc.?
Therapy Dogs Incorporated:
TDInc. is a national organization located in Cheyenne, Wyo., that provides registration, support, and insurance for therapy dogs around the country that are tested and screened according to its guidelines and standards. For $25 per year, per dog, TDInc. insures each registered therapy dog with a three million dollar liability policy.
Visit the TDInc. website at www.therapydogs.com, where you will find all the steps for becoming a member along with guidelines, tips, and helpful hints for making pet therapy visits. These are the same guidelines used by Therapaws.
Therapaws:
Therapaws is a local organization that has partnerships with hospitals, extended care facilities, psych centers, rehabilitation centers, schools, libraries, etc. in Ann Arbor and surrounding communities.
Because of these partnerships, Therapaws is able to match requests for therapy dog visits with our volunteer team members.
Therapaws visits all facilities to make certain they are appropriate hosts for therapy dogs, and the facilities have come to trust Therapaws to provide them with only those handler-dog teams that have met its strict guidelines.
In addition, Therapaws provides support, education, group activities, newsletters, etc. Therapaws does not charge a membership fee.
What is Therapaws to R.E.A.D.?
Learn more about Therapaws to R.E.A.D.
Do you take other animals such as cats, rabbits, llamas, or ponies to visit people?
Therapaws is only for dogs because we are registered with Therapy Dogs Incorporated (TDInc.), a national organization that provides training, support, and insurance for therapy dogs that are tested according to its rigorous guidelines and standards. They do not cover other animals.
Do you work with any other therapy dog-related groups?
Therapaws of Michigan works only with TDInc. Through TDInc., we receive training, support, and insurance for our therapy dogs that are tested according to TDInc.'s guidelines and standards.
Receiving Therapaws Services
- How do I know if the Therapaws Program would fit with my organization or facility?
- How can I obtain the services of Therapaws for my organization or facility?
- Do you make visits to schools and other organizations for special events?
- Do you visit shut-ins?
How do I know if the Therapaws Program would fit with my organization or facility?
If you believe that canine-assisted therapy can make a difference to people in your care by having a positive effect on their motivation, treatment results, and morale, Therapaws can help you.
Customized service is a hallmark of the Therapaws program so every effort is made to accommodate special needs and requests.
How can I obtain the services of Therapaws for my organization or facility?
- Request Our Therapy Dog Services:
- Therapy Dog Visits
- Therapaws to R.E.A.D.
- Facilities Served by Therapaws:
- Therapy Dog Visits
- Therapaws to R.E.A.D.
Do you make visits to schools and other organizations for special events?
Yes. Therapaws teams make visits to schools and to community and service organizations for special events and to make special presentations and demonstration visits.
Do you visit shut-ins?
Therapaws teams may make visits to shut-ins, but it must be through an accredited agency such as Hospice of Michigan.
Home visits can be problematic because at least two people must be available for the visit and because of potential allergies of the shut-in and other pets in the house.
Volunteering for Therapaws
- Who qualifies as a Therapaws team?
- How do I begin the process of having my dog tested for Therapaws?
- Can I register more than one dog at a time?
- If I have two therapy dogs, can I make visits with both of them at one time?
- Can I volunteer if I do not have a dog?
- Is there a minimum age requirement to become a Therapaws team member?
- How old does my dog have to be to become a Therapaws team member?
- Are there specific days of the week that Therapaws teams make their visits?
- How do I become a Therapaws to R.E.A.D. member?
- What if my dog and I become a Therapaws team and we have to move to another city or county in Michigan?
Who qualifies as a Therapaws team?
If you have an obedient, socialized dog who loves people and is at least one year old; if you enjoy listening as well as talking; if you can commit to volunteering in an institutional environment, and if you and your canine companion like to engage in a unique activity, this program may be for you and your dog.
How do I begin the process of having my dog tested for Therapaws?
Read our Required Steps To Become a Therapaws Volunteer. Read the Volunteer Application very carefully as there are critical questions to answer before you and your dog can be considered.
You will be asked to print out and complete a hold-harmless agreement form that you must personally sign and mail to Therapaws.
Once these requirements are met, you will begin the screening-testing-observing process and provide an updated health record for your dog.
You will also be required to register with TDInc. for insurance coverage.
Can I register more than one dog at a time?
A handler is allowed to register only one therapy dog per year. It is important to allow your dog the time needed to adapt to his new career in therapy work. Therefore, it is necessary to focus your time and attention on only one dog at a time.
If I have two therapy dogs, can I make visits with both of them at one time?
No, Therapaws allow handlers to make visits with only one dog at a time.
Can I volunteer if I do not have a dog?
We are always in need of administrative help to keep our group running smoothly. If you wish to put your talents to good use, please follow the instructions in the Other Time & Talent Services Needed section of this web site.
Is there a minimum age requirement to become a Therapaws team member?
You must be at least 16 years old to become a Therapaws team member. But keep in mind that most of our assignments are during the day from Monday to Friday.
How old does my dog have to be to become a Therapaws team member?
All dogs must be at least one year old to become a Therapaws team member.
Are there specific days of the week that Therapaws teams make their visits?
Most facilities require one of their staff members to be present when we make our visits. Therefore, most of our visits are made Monday through Friday, during regular business hours, to accommodate their schedules. Some long-term care facilities are open to having Therapaws teams make visits on weekends, but that must be worked out between you and the facility.
How do I become a Therapaws to R.E.A.D. member?
Visit our Volunteer page and read through the Additional Volunteer Opportunities: Therapaws to R.E.A.D. Program section.
All Therapaws to R.E.A.D. teams must first be registered with TDInc.
You will go through an additional screening and training to determine if you and your dog are suitable candidates for the Therapaws to R.E.A.D. program.
What if my dog and I become a Therapaws team and we have to move to another city or county in Michigan?
As long as you are registered with TDInc. and Therapaws, you and your dog may set up your own visitation schedule with a facility near you.