VOLUNTEERING WITH YOUR DOG AS A THERAPY DOG TEAM
The safety of our visitors and volunteer teams is of utmost importance to Ottawa Therapy Dogs. To mitigate risk, we have a comprehensive recruitment process for prospective volunteers to ensure our visits are safe and effective.
If you feel that you and your dog may be interested in becoming a volunteer therapy dog team with Ottawa Therapy Dogs, please read carefully and follow these steps thoroughly to gain a complete understanding of the requirements and process to qualify for this incredible and unique volunteer opportunity.
Step 1
Step 2
Complete the OTD Self-Assessment. (We will receive a notification when you have completed this)
Step 3
Watch this video to understand how dogs give consent to petting.
Step 4
Step 5
Watch this video to see a demonstration of all the test requirements of the Evaluation that you and your dog must pass.
Step 6
Please ensure that you have completed Steps 1-5 before proceeding. All the steps after this require a commitment from you to attend in-person sessions, so please read everything carefully to understand the requirements and how important it is that your dog will likely be happy to do this work.
Email us at: info@ottawatherapydogs.ca to receive the link to our Application Form and to ask any questions you may have.
List of Pre-Requirements
What happens after submitting your Application?
After reviewing your Application, if you and your dog meet the minimum requirements to proceed, we will invite you to attend a mandatory Information Session and a Practice Session/Preliminary Screening.
Our job is to help you determine whether this is a kind of volunteering that you will both enjoy before you invest in additional training, being evaluated, registered and insured. Please recognize that if your dog doesn’t love this idea as much as you do, you will not find it to be rewarding.