So you want to volunteer with your dog?

So you have the best dog that's ever been created and you want to share him with the world! Good for you! Here's how to do it:
First, therapy vs. service dogs, what’s the diff? Let's get this straight: a therapy dog, sometimes known as an activity dog, is a dog that is taken to visit patients in hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, classrooms, all kinds of places, in order to spread joy and happiness and diversion to an otherwise mundane day. A therapy dog’s job is to send his energies outward, to make friends, to provide some kind of therapy for those in need. These dogs do not enjoy protection under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). In other words, once your dog is registered as a therapy dog, you are not automatically allowed to take him to stores and other public places. That protection applies only to service dogs.
Service dogs are those dogs who perform a service to one individual. This dog’s energies are not directed outward, but only to one person, the person holding the end of the leash. They are specifically trained NOT to “make friends” because they have to help someone navigate about their day. These dogs cannot be making friends with the people they meet because they have to be someone’s ears, or eyes, or emotional support. Sometimes, the disability is not apparent, as some dogs are able to alert when their person is about to have a heart attack, or epileptic seizure. So they cannot be distracted.
What we are talking about here is a therapy dog. And here are the steps:
1. You must have a dog with a great temperament. That means, he loves people, loves to go places and engage with a host of different personalities. He should be friendly towards kids, cats, older people and other dogs. A good temperament is a must.
2. Your dog needs to have basic obedience skills. He should be able to: sit, stay, down, come and, most importantly, heel very nicely. He cannot pull on the lead, there must be a nice “u” between you and the dog, showing that there is “slack” in the leash.
3. He must be in good health. He must be well-groomed, with bright, shiny eyes and coat, clean ears, free of fleas, ticks and internal parasites. He should be emotionally stable, with no signs of depression, anxiety or aggression.
4. You will need a certification from your veterinarian attesting that your dog is up to date on all vaccines and that the veterinarian agrees that the dog, whom should be a well-known patient to the vet, is a good candidate.
There are several agencies that presently register dogs, and in some case, all kinds of pets, to become therapy dogs. Since I am an evaluator with The Delta Society, I can speak a little more authoritatively on their programs and procedures. The best way to get started is to visit DeltaSociety.Org and explore their volunteer opportunities. You will find a list of Delta Society volunteers in your area. Some of these volunteers are licensed by Delta to teach a training class, others are licensed to evaluate your pet and determine if he is, indeed, a good fit for Delta. If there are no trainers in your area, you will be encouraged to purchase the Home Study Guide. In it, you will find all the things you need to do with your dog in order to pass the evaluation. You will learn about Delta’s policies and procedures, and rules and regulations. You will learn how to conduct yourself in a variety of settings and the expectations for you and your dog.
Once you have finished the Home Study Guide, you will call a local evaluator in your area, and set up a time and date for the evaluation.
On the day of the evaluation, wear whatever clothing you would normally wear as a therapy-pet escort. Your dog should be well-groomed and clean. There is a specific list of things you must bring with you, as well as items that are not allowed. There may be a small charge ($20-$35) for the evaluation. Know that the evaluation begins from the moment you step out of the car. The evaluators are observing: did you arrive on time? Did the dog chase a squirrel when he exited the car? Are you yelling at the dog for any reason? If the dog sees another dog in passing, does he act aggressively?
The evaluation should take approximately 30 minutes, but can be stopped at any time that he evaluator feels that the dog is not doing well. You will be counseled on the dogs’ progress and given advice on how to improve your dogs’ skills. If your dog is not a candidate for this kind of activity, you will be given a written evaluation as to why.
Once you have passed the evaluation and sent in the required forms, you will be given a photo I.D. with a photo of you and your dog. You will then be eligible to purchase a green vest which will proudly announce to the world that your dog is a member of a very special team of animals.
Working with your companion animal in a variety of settings can be a rewarding experience and I encourage you to try out for it.
For full information, visit www.DeltaSociety.org.