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Facility Dogs- Pet Therapy

  • Friday, April 01, 2022 7:55 AM
    Message # 12689937

    Does any of your facilities have a "facility dog"? Just 1?

    Is the handler paid or a volunteer? (if paid, approximately how much)

    Does your Volunteer Office sponsor the dog/handler?

    Is their role considered to be pet therapy?

    Can you tell me a little about how this was setup or requests are made or visits or what they do?

    Any information is helpful. Thank you!

  • Friday, April 01, 2022 8:40 AM
    Reply # 12689959 on 12689937
    Alex Seblatnigg (Administrator)

    Hi Nicole,

    We have 5 (?) facilities dogs. The handlers are all paid staff members, so the dogs work with their handlers all day. We go through Canine Companions, so each handler was paired specifically with their dog just like someone would if was getting a personal assistance dog.

    -Alex

  • Monday, April 04, 2022 5:07 PM
    Reply # 12693983 on 12689937
    Rhonda Weaver (Administrator)

    We don't have any facility dogs.....only pet therapy dogs. Their handlers are all volunteers.  We only have 4 teams now, we just lost a golden retriever to cancer a couple of weeks ago, very sad.  The volunteer has another younger golden retriever but it will be a bit before this one is ready for visits.  

  • Tuesday, April 05, 2022 10:20 AM
    Reply # 12694719 on 12689937
    Amanda Landes (Administrator)

    I believe my situation is similar to what Alex mentioned. We have had several facility dogs in the past who came to work with an employee and the dog's role was mostly to support that employee's unit. It was considered to be different from our pet therapy teams and did not go through Volunteer Services.

  • Tuesday, April 05, 2022 12:11 PM
    Reply # 12694871 on 12689937
    Rhonda Weaver (Administrator)

    Amanda

    Do these dogs have to be trained through an accrediting agency to be in the facility? 

  • Wednesday, April 06, 2022 8:54 AM
    Reply # 12696400 on 12689937
    Amanda Landes (Administrator)

    Yes, the dogs have to be trained to be a facility dog. I don't know a lot about it since I wasn't involved, but I know the last one who came here came from Canine Companions. The team member went to them to be matched and to go through intensive training with the dog.

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