Requirements for becoming a Community Hospice pet therapy volunteer:

• Your dog must be at least one year of age, enjoy meeting strangers, and trained not to jump on people or furniture.
• You must complete the Community Hospice patient/family volunteer training.
• Your dog must submit to a simple temperament test—pulling its ears and tail; touching various parts of its body, including the bottom of the paws; being hugged tightly; and placing fingers in its mouth.
• You and your dog – the team – must attend pet therapy training together, and satisfactorily complete the two instructional classes.
• The team must make three visits to a long term care facility, where they will be shadowed by a Therapy Dogs, Inc., tester/observer.
• You are required to register and pay the current registration fee of $35 to Therapy Dogs, Inc. Registration with Therapy Dogs International or the Delta Society also is acceptable.
• Proof of registration is required prior to the pet therapy team being assigned to visit a Community Hospice patient. (Proof consists of the dog’s registration certificate and ID card that you will receive from Therapy Dogs, Inc. )
• Proof must be provided of the dog’s current rabies vaccine.

If you have any additional questions, please call 904.407.7064.