Provide trained and certified animals for visits in medical treatment facilities, wounded service members barracks and other approved locations.
- Visit patients in Medical Treatment Facilities, VA Medical Centers, State Veterans Homes or other approved locations as scheduled by leadership
- Ensure that all baseline requirements are met pertaining to your animals’ health, group liability insurance (not homeowners), training and certifications
- Be responsible for the behavior and care of your animal
- Follow rules and procedures of the facility being visited to include reporting of actions to leadership
Qualifications:
- Pass the respective organizational certification/evaluation test and maintain current membership/registration in the organization
- Pass the Certification Process (the Veterinary Health Screening and Temperament Assessment and have annual veterinary examination and reviews)
- Animals must be at least one year old and in good standing with a certifying organization such as Pet Partners, Alliance of Therapy Dogs, Bright and Beautiful etc. Records must be available for review
- Handler minimum age of 18 is required
- Owner/handler must meet annual recertification requirements for themselves and the animal
- Complete additional security checks required by facilities being visited
- Able to be sensitive to others and personally work well in stressful situations with a wide variety of people
- Become a Red Cross volunteer and part of the Red Cross program
- For programs in Military Treatment Facilities and VA Hospitals: Volunteer must also become a MTF or VAVS volunteer. (Note: this will include additional background check, immunization, and medical testing requirements)
- Willingness to comply with current public health and Red Cross policies.
