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Therapy Animal Volunteer Overview

Many people want to certify their wonderful pets as therapy animals. At Pet Partners, we welcome you and your pet and will guide you through every step to register as a therapy animal team.

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Three teams through an animal and pet therapy volunteer program at Pet Partners with therapy dogs.
Pet Partners Volunteers
Three teams through an animal and pet therapy volunteer program at Pet Partners with therapy dogs.
Pet Partners Volunteers

Pet Therapy Animal Volunteers Change Lives

Some animals were born to be therapy animals—comforting strangers, building community, and bringing joy to all they visit. What our volunteer teams do is not pet therapy or animal therapy, where the animal is being treated. Our therapy dogs and other therapy animals support the people who need it most by sharing their unconditional love.

Program Requirements
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Pet Therapy Program Training - Webinars

Ready to share the love with your pet? Pet Partners offers a number of optional free Webinars to help you succeed in your volunteer journey. Our webinars are led by Pet Partners staff and offer an opportunity to ask specific questions.

Webinars

What Are the Benefits of Volunteering with Pet Partners

Volunteer Opportunities

Pet Partners helps our therapy animal volunteers connect with nearby opportunities like pet visits for the elderly, therapy dog visits to schools, therapy dog hospital volunteer visits, read to a dog library programs and other ways to share your therapy animal with the people who need it most.

Insurance Coverage

Most facilities will require proof of insurance coverage from visiting therapy dog and other therapy animal teams. Pet Partners provides comprehensive liability insurance, satisfying facility requirements and giving therapy animal program volunteers peace of mind.

Local Groups

Connect with a therapy dog and other therapy animal volunteers in your local community, participate in group visits, and build new friendships

Search for local groups

Special Initiatives

Participate in programs that help people in need like Animal-Assisted Crisis Response, reading to therapy dogs with Read With Me™, getting fresh air with therapy animals with Walk With Me™, pet visits for the elderly, and more.

Ways to volunteer

Continuing Education

Our therapy animal volunteers get access to Pet Partners’ free and discounted online courses and exclusive webinars that can help you with their therapy animal education, improve your therapy animal visits, or just help you understand your animal in a deeper way.

Courses & education

Support Staff

Support and customer service from Pet Partners’ exceptional Therapy Animal Program staff.

Contact us

Switch to Pet Partners

Pet Partners welcomes volunteers switching from other organizations. If you are an experienced team, we’ll guide you through the quick process so you and your pet can continue volunteering without interruption. Please contact us to learn more about the specific transition requirements from your previous organization.

Switch Today

Therapy Animal Volunteer Team Program: At a Glance

Pet Partners prepares and supports our therapy animal volunteer teams in creating a positive impact in their communities. We prioritize the well-being of the animal as part of our therapy animal program, but we do not provide animal therapy, which is where the animal is being treated. If you’re looking to make a difference in the lives of others with the help of your furry best friend, sign up for one of our free volunteer training events or webinars today!

Patient kisses Pet Partners therapy dog on the head thanks to a pet therapy program volunteer

What are the types of animal therapy visits?

On-site visits with therapy animal volunteer teams at healthcare facilities, schools, airports, veterans facilities, and many other settings offer a chance for people to share an emotional connection with therapy animals through face-to-face interaction.

Learn more
Animal therapy volunteer dog with yellow vest on ground while man and boy enjoy a pet.

What about special situations such as after a crisis?

Communities across the country and around the world share experiences and identities while facing challenges every day. Interacting with and receiving the comfort of a therapy animal can also offer a universal connection and help people heal.

Animal-assisted crisis response
A young boy in a classroom reads to a rabbit in a basket thanks to a pet therapy program volunteer

Our Reading Program

You can participate in our reading with dogs program Read With Me to visit at your local school or public library, an adult literacy program, or as an extension of visits you’re already making to other facilities. All types of therapy animals do these visits.

Read With Me™
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The Human-Animal Bond Lies at the Heart of Everything We Do

The human-animal bond is a universal connection that transcends boundaries. It knows no race or identity, and is not bound by socioeconomic background, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. We are more alike than we are different, and at Pet Partners, our approach is based on inclusion. We believe pet therapy for seniors, young, or otherwise promote human-animal interactions that can unite. Every individual is worthy of love, respect, dignity, and compassion, and it is our goal to provide access to therapy animal teams that bring heartfelt emotional connection to the communities we serve.

Sophie the Labrador

What can you expect as a Pet Partners therapy animal volunteer team member?

Becoming a therapy animal volunteer is remarkably rewarding and fulfilling. An opportunity to spend more time with your pet. A chance to give back. An opportunity to share your special pet with others. This is just some of what we hear when our volunteers describe their experience with Pet Partners. Hear directly from our volunteers or connect with a local group in your area.

A Pet Partners animal therapy volunteer poses with her black and white therapy dog.
Read volunteer stories
Pet Partners pet therapy program volunteers of Fairfield County at the World's Largest Pet Walk.
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