
Welcome Canine-Assisted Therapy Volunteer Applicants
Thank you for applying to Therapaws of Michigan, Inc. (Therapaws) and for your interest in canine-assisted therapy.
You and your dog can become an important part of this mission and be approved for pet therapy visits once you complete the necessary steps.
Once you have completed the entire process and begin making visits with your canine companion, we are sure that you will find this unique activity extremely rewarding and worth your time and effort. Thank you for your patience!
Required Steps To Become a Therapaws Volunteer
- Step 1: Volunteer Application
- Step 2: Hold-Harmless Agreement
- Step 3: Therapaws will contact you
- Step 4: Be tested & registered by Therapy Dogs Incorporated
- Step 5: Shadow a pet therapy team
- Step 6: Your first facility visit
Step 1: Volunteer Application
NOTE: We will not be processing any applications in May 2008. Thank you for your patience.
Answer all the questions to this online form and click on Submit to send to us. Then proceed to Step 2: Hold-Harmless Agreement.
Please note: All fields are required.
Step 2: Hold-Harmless Agreement
Print out the Hold-Harmless Agreement (580 KB PDF file), read carefully, then sign, date, and mail to Therapaws at the address below. We must have a copy of this agreement on file with your original signature.
Therapaws of Michigan, Inc.
P.O. Box 92
Dexter, MI 48130
Step 3: Therapaws will contact you
A Therapaws member will contact you, either by phone or email, to discuss your application and give you further instructions.
Step 4: Be tested & registered by Therapy Dogs Incorporated
You must be tested by a Therapy Dogs Incorporated (TDInc.), tester and be registered with TDInc., a national organization that insures each registered dog with a three million dollar liability policy for $25 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 Therapaws.
Visit their website at www.therapydogs.com, and you can begin the TDInc. registration process. We strongly suggest that you browse the TDInc. website where you will find all the steps for becoming a member along with rules, regulations, guidelines, tips, and helpful hints, for you and your dog, for making pet therapy visits. These are the same guidelines that Therapaws uses. You also will find a list of local TDInc. testers.
For your convenience, Therapaws has five TDInc. testers in its membership. You may contact any one of the following TDInc. testers (Therapaws members) to schedule an appointment:
Mary Anzalone, anzalone61@msn.com, (734) 428-1808
Sue Fischer, pets4hlth@ameritech.net, (734) 827-2317
Happy (Mary) Jolliffe, happy@wowway.com, (248) 347-9403
Karen OConnor, kwoc@charter.net, (734) 426-3316
Robin Petrillo, hibiscusrdd@hotmail.com, (734) 972-9689
Step 5: Shadow a pet therapy team
You will be contacted by a Therapaws member who will set up an appointment for you (without your dog) to follow one of our Therapaws teams on a pet therapy visit. This can be done while you are waiting for your TDInc. membership.
Step 6: Your first facility visit
Contact Therapaws of Michigan when you receive your TDInc. membership and we will assign you to one of our facilities. A Therapaws member will 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.
Additional Volunteer Opportunities for Therapaws Members
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 Incorporated (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.
Other Time & Talent Services Needed
Print out this Time & Talent form (540 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.
P.O. Box 92
Dexter, MI 48130
