Interacting with a therapy animal has proven to improve both physical and mental health!
Visits with TheraPets can assist in treating depression and/or anxiety, improve mental stimulation, and enhance quality of life.
When bringing TheraPets to your facility, you can be confident the volunteer/pet team has been appropriately trained and certified. Volunteers are required to attend training as part of the certification process, ensuring they are prepared for this type of volunteer work. The safety and comfort of the people we serve is a top priority.
Our TheraPets Teams regularly visit hospitals, assisted living and long-term care facilities, hospices, rehabilitation centers, schools, shelters and more.
We are currently partnered with over 50 facilities in Central Iowa!
About TheraPets Visits
- Visits happen on-site at your facility and last approximately one hour
length of visit dependent on TheraPets' individual needs
- Schedule of visits is agreed upon by facility and each TheraPets Team, based on volunteer’s availability
What to Expect From ARL TheraPets:
- Our TheraPets Teams have passed standards-based assessments for Animal Assisted Interventions
- Administrative support to address questions, comments and/or concerns
- Insurance to supplement volunteer homeowners’ policy
if you require a copy of the policy, please contact therapets@arl-iowa.org
What ARL TheraPets Expects in Return:
- One point of contact available to our volunteers throughout the entirely of their visits
- Orientation for volunteers (as appropriate and applicable per facility)
- A clear understanding of your facility’s rules/requirements for volunteers
- A safe visiting environment for both human and pet volunteer
How to Identify TheraPets Teams:
- Handler will wear an ARL TheraPets photo ID badge
- Pet will wear ARL TheraPets bandana and tag (as appropriate for species)
If you are interested in hosting recurring visits and becoming an ARL TheraPets Partner Facility, fill out the request form here to submit your inquiry for review.