PAAT Program

(Paws'itive Animal Assisted Therapy Program)

Welcome and thank you for your interest in volunteering with your dog in our goal directed therapy program. The PAAT program was established to provide comfort, company and goal directed assistance for those in healthcare and education facilities. This program is also involved in various educational programs within schools and throughout the community. Seeing your dog change lives while working beside you and under the direction of a professional healthcare worker or counselor, could be one of the most rewarding experiences in your life. It will be something that you and your dog will eagerly anticipate. And you will find yourself searching for new ways to teach your dog tasks and behaviors that will enhance the goals set by the healthcare professional. We believe that life is more precious when trust, unconditional love and respect exist as the primary bond between animals and people.

After reading the introduction and pre-requisites below, we invite you to click on the link at the bottom to take you to the application form itself.

For more information about our PAAT Program, send an email to our PAAT Volunteer Coordinator by clicking here.

The goals of our PAAT Program are:

...to work in partnership with professionals in goal-directed therapy using the dog as a tool.

...to bring the unconditional love of animals to people in need.

...to provide clients with an enjoyable, normalizing experience to help them cope with their current situations.

...to use the interactions with the dogs as a diversion from self, disease, and/or pain.

...to provide a safe stimulus that encourages clients to practice designated physical tasks.

Prerequisites

Handler must have completed the Paws'itive Teams Therapy Dog Prep school or have equivalent experiences as evaluated by the Reviewing Panel.

• Handler must complete a PAAT Application and be approved by the PAAT Reviewing Panel.
• Dog and Handler must successfully pass the PAAT Team Evaluation. (click here to view pdf file detailing test)
• Must be interested in and available to volunteer with at least one of our current sites. See this file for description of sites.
• Handler must participate in at least one observation visit, with or without dog, at the discretion of the Team Leader.
• Minimum age of handler is 18 years old.
• Some facilities where we will be volunteering require handler health exams (i.e. TB Test) and background checks (i.e. fingerprinting).

Registration Procedure

• Receive approval and rating from the Reviewing Panel.
• Receive and review PAAT Handbook.
• Review, complete and return all Registrations paperwork in Handbook.
• Successfully complete a veterinary check.
• Complete PAAT and facility-related educational requirements such as training about HIPAA and lesson plans.
• Complete site specific clearances as required by individual sites. These vary for each site, but could include background check, fingerprinting, drug testing or TB testing.

Maintaining Registration

Handler Requirements:

• Agree to a 6-month commitment with the PAAT Program.
• Sign in upon arrival at the site the team is visiting.
• Complete a minimum of 24 hours volunteer time annually (includes travel time).
• Agree to use the PAAT bandana on the dog ONLY during organized PAAT visits.
• Certification is effective for 2 years (if the team meets all program requirements including the minimum volunteer hours and remains acive with the program). All requirements must be met for recertification bi-annually.

Dog Requirements:

• Pass a physical examination upon entry into the program and annually thereafter.
• Be free from parasites (internally and externally).
• Not have any open sores.
• Be bathed within a minimum of 3 days prior to a visit or at the discretion of the Team Leader.
• Successfully pass the PAAT Bi-annual Team Evaluation.

PAAT Application Form Click to access the online application.