Responsibilities of Pet Therapists

As a representative of the Humane Society of Calloway County, a Pet Therapy volunteer is expected to read and abide by the policies stated below:

∙New volunteers will be asked to do the initial Pet Therapy visit without his/her pet.

∙Pet Therapists should be upbeat, sincere and accessible to the patients/residents and others encountered on an outreach visit. They should encourage people to share stories and talk about their experiences. They should also respect the privacy of anyone who chooses not to interact with the people and animals of the program.

∙Therapists should work cooperatively and respectfully with the staff of the facility being visited.

∙The goal of the Pet Therapy visits is to lift the spirits of the people we visit. This is not an occasion for volunteers to assert their own agendas, be they personal, political, or religious.

∙Therapists must be vigilant for signs of stress in therapy animals and remove them from the scene if stress develops.

∙Pet Therapy volunteers should be on the alert to prevent any activity or event that would cause harm to any person or animal during a Pet Therapy activity.

∙A Pet Therapy volunteer who has agreed to attend a planned Pet Therapy activity should notify the Director as soon as possible if he/she is unable to attend.

∙Dress for Pet Therapy activities is casual, but whenever possible, Pet Therapists should wear Pet Therapy shirts (provided by the Humane Society)

∙Pet Therapy volunteers are entitled to a cash reimbursement for expenses (such as gasoline or postage) incurred as a result of working in the program. Requests for reimbursement should be directed in writing to the Board Treasurer.

∙Children under the age of 10 who participate in the Pet Therapy activities must be accompanied by an adult.

Back to Pet Assisted Therapy

Please direct questions or comments about the site to humanesociety@murray-ky.net.