Join more than 10,000 Pet Partners volunteers around the world who care about the human-animal bond.

Where in the World is Pet Partners?

Thanks to generous support from Elanco Animal Health, through funding provided by the Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, Pet Partners is exploring the possibility of expanding the Therapy Animal Program internationally. At this time, we are piloting that expansion in the following select countries:

Interested in having Pet Partners operate in your country or region? Please Contact Us to express interest.
Be aware that demand is high and additional countries or regions will be added at Pet Partners’ discretion.

The Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program

Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program represents the very best in the global field of animal-assisted interventions. Our 10,000+ volunteers and their pets serve a variety of clients including students with literacy challenges, seniors living with Alzheimer’s, patients in recovery, people with intellectual disabilities, and those approaching end of life.

Become a Handler

Registering as a Pet Partners team does require an in-person team evaluation, which is currently available in countries on a limited basis. Follow these steps to register as a global team with Pet Partners:

1

Review Program Requirements & Find a Local Pet Partners Evaluator

Pet Partners is available in a limited number of countries and, in many cases, just a few cities within those countries. Check the map above to ensure you can access an evaluator; then verify that your team meets requirements.

2

Create an International Volunteer Center Account & Start Team Registration

The International Volunteer Center is a website through which you can express interest, read more about program requirements, find tools that will help you prepare for your volunteerism, and access required documents.

3

Complete the Online Handler’s Course

All volunteers must take this course prior to evaluating. It is available in a convenient online format for worldwide access.

4

Schedule and Pass Your In-Person Team Evaluation with Your Pet

Available evaluations are posted on our online calendar, or you can reach out directly to an evaluator in your area to schedule. Evaluations can only be completed in person and by a licensed Pet Partners evaluator.

5

Finalize registration and submit payment

After a successful evaluation, ensure all documentation is complete and pay your two-year registration fee.

I have confirmed that Pet Partners is available in my location.

Continue
Become a Handler

“Sharing my dog with others allows me to give back. It gives me so much satisfaction to volunteer. I look forward to our visits; I dream for the next one to come, so we can bring smiles to others.”

-Teresa Cueto Vigil, Bogota Colombia

Become a Pet Partners International Team Evaluator

Becoming a team evaluator requires an in-person training and assessment component. The in-person team evaluator assessment is not yet widely available. Please Contact Us for information about applying to become an international team evaluator. We require that evaluator candidates demonstrate the following:

  • Professional or extensive volunteer experience working with animals, perhaps as a trainer, veterinarian, researcher, or advocate. Ideally, evaluators will have visited clients/patients with their animals in a therapeutic capacity.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of canine body language.
  • Knowledge of and connection to interested volunteers in their region in need of therapy animal team evaluations and registration, as well as a willingness to be an ambassador, leader, and organizer for Pet Partners.
Apply

Partner Organizations

Animal Assisted Intervention International

IAHAIO

ISAZ