Our Species are Diverse, Our Volunteers Should be Also

At Pet Partners, our volunteers serve diverse populations of people with any of the nine species of animals we register. We are committed to creating a volunteer force that is more representative of the populations we serve. We welcome unique perspectives and experiences in terms of national origin, culture, socioeconomic background, ethnicity, race, color, sex, gender identity and expression, education, age, languages spoken, veteran status, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs, which help us strengthen our impact.

Pet Partners’ Therapy Animal Program

The Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program screens and registers volunteer therapy animal handlers and their pets to provide safe and effective therapy animal visits in hospitals, assisted living, rehabilitation centers, schools, and other facilities.

The program was established in 1990 to ensure that “both ends of the leash,” people as well as animals, are well-prepared to participate in animal-assisted interventions. The Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program has the highest standards in the field of therapy animal team registration and requires volunteer education and recurring evaluation of therapy animal teams, as well as providing ongoing continuing education, in order to ensure professionalism, safety, and animal welfare in all visits.

Resources for Prospective Volunteers

• Become a Volunteer Therapy Animal Team (PDF)
• Folleto de Conviértase en un voluntario de Equipo de Terapia Animal (PDF)
• Registering as a Therapy Animal Team (PDF)
• Folleto de Registración de Equipo de Terapia Animal (PDF)