Therapy dog services are provided in a wide range of community settings such as:

• Hospitals
• Seniors residences and care facilities
• Schools, universities, and colleges
• Community centres and libraries

The Therapy Dog program provides opportunities for individuals to:

• Talk with the volunteer and the dog
• Feel, touch, pet, and cuddle the dog
• Receive unconditional love from the dog
• Carry-out or practice an activity in the presence of the dog

• Must be 18 years or older (youth between the ages of 16-18 may join the program but must be supervised by an adult therapy dog handler)
• Be able to commit to the program and placement facility for at least one year, for once a week visits
• Be willing to participate in an over-the-phone informal interview with a Unit Facilitator
• Submit to a criminla records check
• Attend an orientation session, followed by an evalutaion of your dog and your dog-handling abilities

• Must be at least 1 year old (preferably 2 years/age of social maturity for most breeds)
• Have lived in a permanent home for at least 6 months
Be on a regular regimen of veterinary vaccinations for rabies, parvovirus, distemper, and adenovirus. It is also recommended that dogs be vaccinated for leptospirosis. These may take place on a yearly or three-year basis. Currently, titer testing is not accepted in lieu of vaccinations
• Receive annual veterinarian checks
• not be fed a raw-meat diet
• respond to basic commands (sit, stay, lie down, heel at the handler's side on a loose lead)
• not mouth people's arms or hands
• not jump on people
• not growl at other dogs or relieve themselves indoors (even submissive peeing)