× Pet Partners of Greater Cincinnati

 


× Pet Partners of Greater Cincinnati
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Pet Partners of Greater Cincinnati

Pet Partners Volunteer FAQ

Click Pet Partners link for answers to the most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Pet Therapy.

https://petpartners.org/volunteer/volunteer-faq


About Our Organization

What does it mean that Pet Partners of Greater Cincinnati is a 501(c)(3) organization?

501(c)(3) refers to the Internal Revenue Service's tax code that allows a corporation to operate as a nonprofit and accept contributions from the public without paying taxes. This designation also allows you to count your contribution as a tax deduction.



About Being a Therapy Animal Team

Can I take my dog to an extended care facility without being registered?

You can, but that is not advisable. You and your dog should be evaluated by a trained evaluator. Registration also eliminates the risk of not having the proper insurance.


Does Pet Partners of Greater Cincinnati require classroom instruction prior to Therapy Animal team registration?

A classroom session is required for the handler, but no classroom instruction with your animal is required. Pet Partners of Greater Cincinnati offers Therapy Animal team Workshops to help those who want to learn more about pet therapy or who want assistance learning the required skills.


Does my animal have to have all its vaccinations?

Pet Partners of Greater Cincinnati registration requires that each animal must be up to date with rabies vaccination and any other state required vaccine. Individual facilities may have their own requirements.


Does the age of the animal matter?

Yes it does. An animal must be at least one year of age to begin providing therapy. Animals younger than one year of age should be enrolled in a training program.


Does the animal have to be spayed / neutered?

No, an animal does not need to be spayed or neutered to provide Animal Assisted Therapy.


How do I know if my animal is suited for therapy work?

You and your pet should have an interest in people and enjoy visiting. Your pet should be healthy, have at least a basic level of training and be reliable, even in crowded or unexpected situations. Some essentials:
  • Animal likes being petted, touched and hugged
  • Animal demonstrates reliable, controllable, predictable behavior
  • Animal actively solicits interactions with people
  • Animal is able to remain calm in disruptive settings
  • Animal is outgoing, friendly and confident in new settings
If your animal is unpredictable, doesn't like being around people, or is aggressive to people or other animals it would not be suitable for therapy work.


What kind of animals can provide Animal Assisted Activities?

Almost any animal can provide Animal Assisted Activities. With the correct training, animals such as dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, some birds, and even llamas are successfully used as therapy animals.


Why should my pet and I be evaluated and registered?

Several international organizations set standards for Animal Assited Activities (AAA) and Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) and help ensure that visiting teams have the skills and aptitude to make a good team. Pet Partners of Greater Cincinnati closely adheres to these standards in its workshops and its Therapy Team evaluations. Once registered with Pet Partners, you and your pet are covered by a liability insurance policy while volunteering.



General

Can I get involved with Pet Partners of Greater Cincinnati without a pet?

Yes, you can get involved and assist at any of the many events Pet Partners of Greater Cincinnati attends each year or be a volunteer for evaluations. Please contact info@tpgcpets.org for more information.


Can I get paid for providing AAA or AAT?

No, Pet Partners of Greater Cincinnati is a volunteer organization. Members donate their time to bring happiness to others. Any expenses you incur providing therapy, including mileage, uniform, and extra expenses for grooming, may be tax deductible.


How much does Pet Partners of Greater Cincinnati charge for visits?

Pet Partners of Greater Cincinnati members volunteer their time and do not charge for any pet therapy visit.


What is Animal Assisted Activity?

Animal Assisted Activities (AAA) are the casual "meet-and-greet" activities that involve pets visiting people. The same activity can be repeated with many people, unlike a therapy program that is tailored to a particular person or medical condition.


What is Animal Assisted Therapy?

Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is goal-directed intervention in which an animal that meets specific criteria is an integral part of the treatment process. Goals can be physical, educational, motivational or mental health oriented. In addition to goals, AAT programs measure the individual's progress.


What is the difference between service, therapy, companion, and "social" animals?

Service animals are legally defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) and are trained to meet the disability-related needs of their handlers. Federal laws protect the rights of individuals with disabilities to be accompanied by their service animals in public places.

Federal law does not legally define therapy animals, but some states have laws defining therapy animals. They provide people with contact to animals, but are not limited to working with people who have disabilities. They are usually the personal pets of their handlers, and work with their handlers to provide services to others. Federal laws have no provisions for people to be accompanied by therapy animals in places of public accommodation that have "no pets" policies. Therapy animals usually are not service animals.

Companion animal is not legally defined, but is accepted as another term for pet. "Social/therapy" animals likewise have no legal definition. They often are animals that did not complete service animal or service dog training due to health, disposition, trainability, or other factors, and are made available as pets for people who have disabilities. These animals might or might not meet the definition of service animals.