Where can I find a Therapy animal group to volunteer with in Minneapolis/St. Paul?
Reprinted here with permission from Carol Ouhl
This information has been prepared for anyone interested in therapy animal activities. It is intended to give you an overview of what's involved in taking your pet to do volunteer visiting or working with your animal in your health care profession. This handout provides contacts for the national organizations which evaluate and register "therapy animals."
"Therapy dogs" or "therapy animals" are generic names given to an animal once it has been specifically evaluated and registered with one of the national organizations that operate in this capacity. The majority of therapy animals are dogs. However, cats, rabbits, horses, llamas, cockatiels, pot bellied pigs, etc. can also do this work. There are two distinctly different applications for therapy animals. Many different types of animals participate in both AAA & AAT. Volunteers who take their pets to visit hospitals, nursing homes, day care programs, schools, special education programs, prisons, residential treatment facilities for a wide variety of illnesses and injuries, and many other types of facilities for the purpose of being petted, talking to the animal or with the handler is called Animal-Assisted Activities (AAA). The term "pet therapy" is sometimes heard but is not recommended as people mistakenly think the animal is receiving therapy. Health care professionals or therapists who incorporate their animal, (or work in partnership with a therapy animal's handler), as a treatment modality in a written, individualized treatment plan with specific, documented goals are performing Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT).
Good "therapy animals" come in any size, sex, breed or mix of breeds (and many species). They need to like people, be controllable, be trained, well mannered, very, very accepting of strange sights, sounds and smells and be of the utmost stable personality. The animal's ability to calmly accept unusual or new circumstances is one of many keys to a good therapy animal. Not every animal will like doing this activity. They can be exposed to the activity, taught specific maneuvers and behaviors for the activity and still not respond well to the activity. Animals should not be required to do an activity they dislike it; it creates too much stress for them. Some animals will enjoy this work for a short time and then "burn out". Younger animals can begin low impact training and positive exposure and desensitizing at any age. Some puppy kindergarten classes expose puppies to various types of surfaces on which to walk, different sounds, sights, people and handling as well as a variety of types of medical equipment. "Therapy Dogs" DO NOT operate as Assistance or Service Dogs that assist people with disabilities or the hearing or visually impaired. This is another higher level of training and assessment. "Therapy Dogs" DO NOT have federally granted legal access to public transportation, airplane cabins or public buildings as is afforded to Service Dogs.
Good "therapy animal handlers" must be able to communicate with his/her animal in a gentle, positive manner; recognize their animal's particular signs of stress; and know how to help their animal. The handler must be willing to take the time to expose their animal to many sights, sounds and smells to prepare their animal for this type of "work". This is a team effort; handlers must be skilled at working jointly with their animal in this endeavor. Handlers must be skilled at protecting their animal and being an advocate for that animal as it does the work requested by the handler. Handlers must be willing to commit time and energy to this activity and truly enjoy visiting with people. Handlers can begin learning handling etiquette and techniques before their pet is ready to begin training. A large portion of what is involved in preparing to engage in these types of activities is exposure or desensitization to a wide variety of unusual sights, sounds, smells, touches and situations. Both the animal and handler learn proper responses to situations, how to assess situations and avoid problems.
All of the national organizations will not allow an animal to work before one year of age due to stress on the animal and the dangers of unpredictable younger animals. If you have a puppy, you should start with basic puppy kindergarten followed by obedience classes. All of the national organizations' evaluations require some basic obedience skills. This is designed to ensure you have the proper control over your animal to keep it safe in any environment you might encounter.
If you want to volunteer with your pet:
For a good overview on the activity of visiting with your pet read, "Volunteering with Your Pet" by Mary Burch, Ph.D.; or "Therapy Dogs" by Kathy Diamond Davis.
Contact the national organizations listed here to view their tests and any training materials available from them.
Then determine the training you and your animal teammate need prior to testing. Many groups prefer you be evaluated by, and registered with, one particular organization.
When ready to be evaluated for the national organization you have chosen, contact a local evaluator for a schedule.
Evaluation by, and registration with, a national organization gives you:
free liability insurance coverage as a volunteer
a way to network with other people involved in this activity
places to obtain helpful ideas via newsletters or training programs on handling various situations
additional credibility when talking with a facility about bringing your pet to visit them
Criteria of the various organizations:
Each organization varies slightly in their requirements of the animal and handler. Be sure to check with the organization you have chosen to identify their specific requirements. Generally speaking:
All animals must be one year of age before they can be evaluated
Adopted animals must have been living in the home of their handler for at 6 months prior to being evaluated.
All animals must be current on their vaccinations.
Every person intending to do visits with a given animal, must be separately evaluated.
Juniors / children may also enjoy this activity; they too must be evaluated with the animal.
How to begin:
After viewing the sites of the various organizations, choose which national organization you would like to join. After reviewing the websites, determine the training you and your pet may need to achieve the skills that will be evaluated according to the exercises shown on the various websites.
If you choose to join Therapy Dogs, Inc. or Therapy Dogs International, Inc.
contact that organization's local evaluator to set up a time to be evaluated.
If you choose to join Delta Society, attend one of their training workshops listed on their website or obtain from Delta Society a copy of their Pet Partners Team Training home study course and video. Once you've completed that training, contact that organization's local evaluator to set up a time to be evaluated.
Once evaluated and registered with a national organization, you may begin visiting.
Decide if you want to visit by yourself or with a group
If you want to visit by yourself, contact the volunteer coordinator of the facility you have chosen. Ask:
If they have a visiting pet program, policies and procedures.
What criteria or credentials they require of you and your pet before you begin visiting.
What volunteer training they offer or require for their facility.
If you want to visit with a group
Contact one of the local visiting therapy dog groups shown on the attached list to learn of their specific requirements to join their group.
Ask whether you can bring your dog to the first meeting with that group.
Ask what specific training they might offer to members of their group.
What is the difference between visiting by yourself or with a group?
Once you begin visiting a facility, both staff and people to be visited look forward to, and count on, you to be there when scheduled. It can be stressful and difficult for volunteers to fulfill a regular commitment on a long-term basis. People who visit by themselves set a visiting schedule at a convenient facility that is comfortable for them, i.e., once a month, once a week, or on a varied schedule as they have time available. If they have schedule conflicts, the visit will need to be postponed or cancelled. This can be a disappointment and disruptive to the facility which frequently schedules activities a month in advance. Visiting by yourself can, however, offer flexibility in scheduling visits.
Visiting with a group may afford less guilt or stress if you have a schedule conflict and can't make a visit. Other members of the group will continue the visit as scheduled and you can fulfill your other obligations. Other members of the group will share your experiences, lend support, offer help or information. Some groups offer clinics, seminars, and training specifically on this activity. There may, however, be some additional requirements to fulfill for whatever group you join such as membership meetings, training required, time commitments expected or expectations of visiting already chosen facilities.
If you are a health care professional:
Contact your professional association to learn about insurance liability coverage when incorporating an animal.
The free liability insurance coverage you have as a volunteer from one of the therapy dog organizations may not cover you if you are performing the duties of your profession and incorporating your animal.
Talk with your facilities for policies, procedures, practices concerning incorporating animals in your profession.
Have you and your animal evaluated by one of the therapy animal organizations. Preferably, find an evaluator familiar with your particular professional activities.
Talk to your personal insurance agent and or attorney concerning all aspects of incorporating an animal into your profession.
Talk to other health care professionals in your field who have experience incorporating animals to obtain ideas for applications, implementation, risks, etc.
Contact a local organization to obtain training or other resources for incorporating animals in your field
National Organizations that evaluate and register therapy animals:
Therapy Dogs, Inc., (TD Inc.) (Dogs only)
Delta Society (Many species)
P O Box 5868 Cheyenne, WY 82003
289 Perimeter Rd E., Renton, WA 98055-1329
Phone: 877-843-7364 (toll free)
Phone: 425-226-7357 or 800-869-6898
Fax: 307-638-2079
Fax: 425-235-1076
E-Mail: therdog@sisna.com
Email: info@deltasociety.org
Web: www.therapydogs.com
Web: www.deltasociety.org
Training Available: None
Training Available: Seminars, Workshops & Pet Partners Team Training Home Study Course
Local Evaluators: Diane Moyer, 612-553-1501
Theresa Stead - 651-487-1076
Local Evaluators: Carol Ouhl - 651-762-1581
Therapy Dogs International, Inc. (TDI, Inc.) (Dogs only)
Foundation for Pet Provided Therapy (Many species)
88 Bartlett Rd., Flanders, NJ 07836
PO Box 6308, Oceanside, CA 92056
Phone: 973-252-9800
Phone: 760-724-8878
E-Mail: tdi@gti.net
E-Mail: watachie@aol.com
Web: www.tdi-dog.org
Web: www.lizpalika.com
Training Available: None
Training Available: None
Local Evaluators: Carol Ouhl, White Bear Lake
Kathleen Reilly-Daniels, Mpls
Local Evaluator: Any Obedience Instructor, animal
behaviorist, veterinarian
Minnesota-Minneapolis/St. Paul groups and/or training available:
Twin Cities Tail-Waggers Visiting Dog Group
(prefers Delta Society registration)
Twin Cities Obedience Training Club
(www.tcotc.com)
2101 Broadway NE., Mpls., MN 554
Classes & Seminars available
Contact: Carol Ouhl
Phone: 651-762-1581
Email:couhl@email.msn.com
or
couhl@msn.com
Helping Paws of Minnesota, Inc. (Service Dogs)
www.helpingpaws.org
PO Box 634, Hopkins, MN 55343-0634
Classes Available for visiting dog program
Contact: Dawn Torine-Micko, OT,
Director, AAA / AAT Program
Helping Paws Phone: 612-988-9359
Dawn's Email: dtorinem@stkate.edu
St. Andrews Church Animal Angels
Mahtomedi, MN
Contact: Kathryn Monroe
Phone: 651-407-8734;
Email: monroe127@mediaone.net
Pals on Paws Visiting Dogs
Anoka, MN
(requires TDI, Inc. registration)
Contact: Pat Kinch
55th St. NE
Rogers, MN 55374
Phone: 612-497-5809
Email: srott@msn.com
Bark Avenue on Parade
(www.barkavenueonparade.com)
PO Box 62112
Mpls., MN 55426
Email: bouvweb@sprynet.com
Northwoods Boxer Club Visiting Dogs
Contact: Paula Thomas
1325 Birchview Dr.
Maplewood, MN 55119
Phone: 651-779-6985
All Breed Obedience
www.allbreedobedience.com
Classes available
Contact: Deb Schneider
Phone: 651-704-9785
Email: aobedience@aol.com
Caring Critters of MN, Inc.
AAT Training & Applications only
2254 Lilac Lane
White Bear Lake, MN 55110
Contact: Carol Ouhl
Phone: 651-752-1581
Email: couhl@email.msn.com
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