• Welcome Canine-Assisted Therapy Volunteer Registrants
  
  
• Requirements for Becoming a Canine-Assisted Therapy Volunteer
  
  
• Additional Volunteer Opportunities

Welcome Canine-Assisted Therapy Volunteer Registrants

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By this time, you probably have browsed our entire website and have a pretty good idea what Therapaws of Michigan, Inc. (Therapaws) is all about. If you haven't, we encourage you to go back over all the pages and links so you become totally familiar with canine-assisted therapy and what it involves. If you seriously believe this is a volunteer commitment you wish to make with your dog then we are pleased to invite you to begin the process of becoming a canine-assisted therapy volunteer.

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Requirements for Becoming a Canine-Assisted Therapy Volunteer

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The very first thing you are required to do before becoming a canine-assisted therapy volunteer is to register with an umbrella organization called Therapy Dogs, Inc. (TDInc.), a national registry that provides liability insurance for handler/dog teams. To become registered with TDInc., there is a test and three observations - conducted by TDInc.-approved Testers/Observers (T/Os) - that you and your dog are expected to pass. For your convenience, Therapaws of Michigan has five TDInc.-approved T/Os within its membership.

Once you have filled out the Therapaws questionnaire (ie: answer every question and fill in every blank, even if it's with an X), you will be expected to attend an orientation meeting before you are tested.

Confused? yes, you applied to Therapaws of Michigan, Inc. We are a local Washtenaw County based organization. All of our members are also members of Therapy Dogs, Incorporated, a national therapy dog organization which provides an insurance policy for your dog and excellent guidelines for your volunteer work.

You will be tested by a Therapy Dogs, Incorporated Tester/Observer. Several members of Therapaws are also Tester/observers for TherapyDogs, Inc.

These meetings will be scheduled on a Saturday the month before we test you (March, June, September and November or December). This orientation is for Therapy Dogs, Incorporated.It is necessary for you to understand what is involved in the testing process and what is expected of you and your dog as a therapy dog team volunteer.

After the orientation meeting, you will be able to sign up for a testing date/time and ask any questions that you may have. You will also be shadowing an experienced therapy dog team during this orientation.

Once you have received your TDInc. membership card, you have two options, which you can indicate on the questionnaire below.

OPTION ONE: You are free to become an independent TDInc. pet therapy team and make your own arrangements with any facility of your choice anywhere in the country. There are usually guidelines at such facilities that you and your dog will be expected to follow. You also will have to renew your membership in TDInc. each year, along with the annual fee of $30.

OPTION TWO: In addition to TDInc. membership, you also may choose to become a member of Therapaws of Michigan, our local canine-assisted therapy program, currently serving Ann Arbor and surrounding communities. Many registrants choose to add Therapaws membership because of the reputation we have with local facilities who come to us when they need suitable pet therapy teams.

Therapaws membership also provides a network of more than 70 teams that can be contacted for special-event functions in addition to regular assignments. At certain locations like the University of Michigan Health System, therapy teams are required to be Therapaws members in addition to membership in TDInc. You must fill out a Hold Harmless Agreement, send a one-time non-refundable $20 registration fee, and a copy of your current TDInc. card to Therapaws of Michigan: c/o Valerie Wells, 347 Edison Ave, Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197.

OPTION ONE: If you wish only to be a TDInc. member.

Step 1: Fill in and submit Volunteer Questionnaire
Step 2: A Therapy Dogs, Inc. T/O will contact you
Step 3: You will be tested, observed, registered by TDInc.

OPTION TWO: If you wish also to become a Therapaws of Michigan member, the following three steps (4-5-6) must be added to the steps in Option One.

Step 4: Fill in and return Hold-Harmless Agreement, check, and TDInc. card.
Step 5: Shadow a Therapaws team or schedule a screening (see Step 5: A - B below).
Step 6:

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Step 1: Fill in and submit Volunteer Questionnaire

NOTE: TDInc. registrants are tested four times a year - in January, April, July, and October. You will be tested in the month closest to the date when your paperwork is received. To be tested, dogs must be at least one year of age and handlers at least 16 years old. Be aware that the screening/testing process can take up to six months.

Please answer all questions on this online form and click on Submit to send to us. All fields are required. EVERY LINE MUST HAVE AN ANSWER. "X" IS FINE IF YOU FEEL IT DOES NOT APPLY.

Contact Information: Part 1 of 4

Please fill in all the information completely before going on to Part 2:

Your Name
Dog's Name

Address
City
State
Zip

Email

Home Phone
Work Phone
Cell Phone

OPTION ONE: I am interested in being a member of TDInc. only.
OPTION TWO: I am interested in being a member of TDInc. AND Therapaws.

Self Evaluation: Part 2 of 4

The following YES or NO questions are designed to help you and us evaluate whether or not you and your dog would make a suitable canine-assisted therapy team.

1. Are you 16 years of age or older? YES NO
2. Is your dog one year of age or older? YES NO
3. Do you own the dog that you want us to consider? YES NO
4. All qualified teams are encouraged to commit to regularly assigned visits for a period of at least two years. Are you able to make this time commitment? YES NO
5. Therapaws teams (owner and dog) make regularly scheduled visits to hospitals and extended care facilities in Ann Arbor and surrounding communities. Are you able to make regularly scheduled visits within our service area? YES NO
6. Therapaws teams generally travel by car to their placement. Do you have reliable transportation to make regularly scheduled visits? YES NO
7. Most facilities require staff to be on site during our visits. Therefore, most of our team visits are scheduled during weekdays. Evening and weekend assignments are rare. Are you available to volunteer for assignments Mondays through Fridays between 9 A.M. and 5 P.M.? YES NO
8. Therapy dogs must be current on all required vaccinations, based on the veterinarian's recommendation, and must have an annual veterinary physical examination and fecal test. Can you meet this requirement? YES NO
9. Therapy dogs must have some level of obedience training and must meet certain temperament standards. These include being able to walk on leash without pulling, following basic commands, willing to be touched by strangers, responding calmly to people calling name, tolerating sudden noises such as voices, approaching wheelchairs, walkers, canes, etc. Can your dog meet these requirements? YES NO
10. During visits, therapy dogs may meet children and adults who could suddenly grab, poke, or pull on them. Would your dog react to such behavior with aggression or submissive piddling? YES NO
11. Occasionally therapy dogs may see or meet other dogs or animals during a visit. Does your dog show signs of aggression toward other animals or people? YES NO
12. Therapy dogs are expected to show up for a visit with a clean, brushed, odorless coat, clean teeth, clear eyes, and trimmed nails. Dogs must be free of external parasites and any insecticide treatment must be administered not less than three days in advance of a visit. Can you meet these requirements? YES NO
13. Dog owners must be neat, well groomed, sociable, and willing to follow and respect the facility's standards, rules, and procedures. Can you meet these requirements? YES NO
14. Do you consider yourself compassionate, friendly, dependable, and one who maintains good judgment when interacting with others, like extending empathy but not sympathy? YES NO
15. In your dealings with patients or residents, can you be a good listener while maintaining strict confidentiality? YES NO
16. Your overall health is important. Do you have any conditions that would prevent you from making and completing regularly scheduled visits? YES NO
17. Are you comfortable interacting with sick children or adults who may be very ill, suffering from dementia, etc.? YES NO
18. Members who take their dogs to work with them and/or use them in their jobs such as, but not limited to, teachers, therapists, doctors, or psychologists, are NOT covered by TDInc. insurance when functioning as employees. Do you agree to the rule that you will conduct your therapy visits only as a volunteer and not in a paid position? YES NO

If you feel you and your dog will make a good canine-assisted therapy team after answering the questions above, please go on to Part 3.

Information About You: Part 3 of 4

Education

Education

School

Occupation

Previous volunteer experience

Why would you like to be involved in this program?

Pet visitation experience

Previous experience(s) with pet visitation?

 YES NO

If yes, describe

Facility visitation experience

Have you visited residents or patients who were strangers to you in a hospital, assisted-living facility, group home, rehabilitation or psychiatric center?

 YES NO

If yes, describe

What type of facility would you prefer to visit and, in your opinion,
would suit your dog's temperament?

What is your preferred frequency of visits? --- Choose one --- Weekly Biweekly Monthly Bimonthly

What is your preferred day(s) to visit? --- Choose one --- Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

What is your preferred time to visit?Morning Afternoon

Information About Your Dog: Part 4 of 4

Call name

Breed (If mixed, give details)

Color(s)/marking(s)

Sex Male Female

Spayed or neutered?YES NO

Date/year of birth (approx.)

How long have you owned your dog?

Approx. dog age when you adopted

Obedience training (describe classes, level, home training, etc.)

Describe exposure of dog to new and unfamiliar places

Car rides

Does your dog ride well in car?

 YES NO

If not, describe circumstances

Agression or irritability

Has your dog ever shown signs of aggression or irritability?

 YES NO

If so, describe circumstances

Tell briefly why your dog would make a good therapy dog

 

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Step 2: A Therapy Dogs, Inc. Tester/Observer will contact you to schedule your appointments.

It is important that you show up at the scheduled time and place for your TDInc. test and subsequent observations because the process from beginning to end must be completed within six months. You are required to bring to your first appointment copies of the following TDInc. materials, all of which can be downloaded from their website at www.TherapyDogs.com: Application form, Release of Claims form, and the TDInc. test, which also will help you know what to expect.

We strongly suggest that you further browse the TDInc. website, where you will find all the rules, regulations, guidelines, tips, and helpful hints, for you and your dog, for making pet therapy visits.

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Step 3: You will be tested, observed, and, if passed, registered by TDInc.

Therapy Dogs Inc. (TDInc.) insures each registered dog with a five million dollar liability policy for $30 per year.

IMPORTANT: Holding membership in TDInc., and the insurance coverage that comes with it, is necessary before you can make visits on behalf of TDInc. or Therapaws of Michigan.

NOTE: If you also wish to become a Therapaws of Michigan member, the following three steps (4, 5, 6) must be added to the process, after you have received your TDInc. membership card.

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Step 4: Fill in and return the Hold-Harmless Agreement, check, and TDInc. card.

Print out the Hold-Harmless Agreement (595 KB PDF file), read carefully, then sign, date, and mail to Therapaws at the address below, along with a one-time, non-refundable $20 Therapaws of Michigan registration fee, paid by check to Therapaws of Michigan, Inc. We must have a copy of this agreement on file with your original signature. Also include a copy of your TDInc. membership card.

Therapaws of Michigan, Inc.
c/o Valerie Wells
345 Edison Ave
Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197

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Step 5:

A. Shadow a Therapaws Team

One of our Therapaws members will contact you, either by phone or email, to set up an appointment for you (without your dog) to shadow a Therapaws team on a pet therapy visit, or...

B. Schedule a Screening

If you come to Therapaws with a TDInc. membership already in place, you will not have to be tested by TDInc. again, but we do require a screening by a Therapaws member. The reason for this is so Therapaws can get to know you and your pet partner to help place you in an appropriate facility.

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Step 6: Your facility assignment

Once all of your paperwork is complete, a Therapaws member will assign you to one of our facilities, accompany you and your dog on your first visit, and answer any questions you may have.

Please understand that Therapaws will make every effort to place you at a facility of your preference, but assignments are made where the need is greatest. If you wish to volunteer at one of the hospitals, you also will be required to go through their individual volunteer orientations before you can make hospital visits.

Please click on Therapy Dog Visits: Facilities Served by Therapaws and/or Therapaws to R.E.A.D.: Facilities Served by Therapaws for a list of facilities in Ann Arbor and surrounding communities that are visited by Therapaws teams.

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Additional Volunteer Opportunities

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• Therapaws to R.E.A.D. Program
• Other Time & Talent Services Needed

 

Therapaws to R.E.A.D. Program

If you are interested in the Therapaws to R.E.A.D. program, you first must be registered with Therapy Dogs Inc. (TDInc.) and with Therapaws of Michigan, Inc. (Therapaws).

We encourage you to do therapy work with your dog first before you commit to additional work in the Therapaws to R.E.A.D. program.

Once you have done this, please send an email to info@therapaws.org stating your recent Therapaws history and your wish to explore the Therapaws to R.E.A.D. program.

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Other Time & Talent Services Needed

Print out this Time & Talent form (570 KB PDF file), circle the areas you wish to become involved with - in addition to your regular therapy dog visits - fill in the information, and mail to:

Therapaws of Michigan, Inc.
C/O Valerie Wells
345 Edison Ave
Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197

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