Both ends of the leash, human and animal, must meet the highest standards to volunteer with Pet Partners. If you are at least 10 years of age, learn if you and your pet qualify.
Pet Partners understands that interactions with many species of animals can be therapeutic. We proudly register nine different species of animals for therapy visits, including dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, birds, miniature pigs, and llamas and alpacas.
Take the next step and apply to be a volunteer therapy animal team with your pet.
Log in to your account in the Volunteer Center and click on My Registrations. From your current registration, click the teal “Renew Registration” button on the right-hand side.
The Renewing Pet Partners Handler Knowledge Assessment is a 40-question exam renewing handlers must take as a refresher on the basic policies and procedures from the original handler course and handler guide.
Submitting an updated Animal Health Screening form confirms that your animal hasn’t had any health changes since your latest registration and can participate in the program. Only the official Pet Partners Animal Health Screening form is acceptable documentation to meet this requirement.
Your renewal team evaluation is a chance to show off what you’ve learned as an experienced team, evaluate with new equipment if you’d like to, or evaluate for a new rating.
Once the steps above are completed, Advocates at Sterling Volunteers will email you on behalf of Pet Partners. If you have previously completed a check with them, they may ask you to access your old Sterling Volunteers account to log in. Minors and non-U.S. citizens are exempt from this step.
Your renewal registration fee will cover the next two years of volunteerism with Pet Partners, including your insurance coverage, background check, free or discounted continuing education, access to resources, and support from our amazing staff. Pet Partners is committed to keeping volunteerism as accessible as possible, so your fee covers only a portion of the true cost to volunteer. Pet Partners relies on charitable donations and sponsorships to make this program possible.
The registration fee for renewal registrations is $70. There are some discounts available. See our Fees page for more information.
Once reviewed, we’ll send you a payment email. After payment, we will email you an updated acceptance letter in 2-3 business days confirming that you can resume visiting. Questions? Contact Us!
Pet Partners volunteers understand they play an important role in keeping everyone involved in a visit safe: their animal, the client, and themselves. The Standards of Practice in Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAI) is a publication that offers the most comprehensive guidelines for AAI and prescribe a rigorous set of criteria designed to ensure the safety of therapy animals, handlers, and clients that they interact with. The Standards of Practice can serve as a reference for individuals, facilities, and organizations that are seeking to incorporate best practices. The publication includes five sections addressing standards for handlers, therapy animals, assessment, animal welfare, and risk management.
