Therapy Animals

[peepacheep]

dgeter, you are in Co? Don't know how close you are to Denver but there is a very large active group of volunteers in that area. Classes and evaluations are held there often. The home study guide can be ordered directly from the Delta's website. A silkie roo would be quite the conversation opener!

 

[dgeter]

Quote:
I'm only an hour away. I'm definitely considering this. It would be fun to take peanut to the nursing homes and stuff. What is their website? I googled it but didn't come up with anything. Any idea on what a chicken has to do to qualify?

 

[peepacheep]

The website is www.deltasociety.org. There is an overview of the evaluation on the website. Small animals that are carried have a somewhat modified version. It was years ago when my rabbits were tested, at that time Sit-Stay-Come were not part of their test. I carried them in a towel lined basket with them wearing a light weight harness and leash. I do not know the specifics on birds but I think they can either be caged or leashed but I am not absolutely certain. The therapy animal evaluation is very similar to the Canine Good Citizen test with some more emphasis on what you and your animal might encounter when visiting to a nursing home. The basic process to become registered with your animal is reading the home study guide, (this spring it was $45) having your vet examine and fill out the health form, the evaluation, (my evaluator charged $20 per dog) and then filling out the registration papers, ($75 for the first animal, $30 for each additional animal, part of this is liability coverage). This is an every 2 year process. If you can not find a local contact in the Denver area on the website pm me, I can find that info for you. There are a few steps to go through along the way to getting registered but the experiences and people I have met over the years have been life changing. It is amazing what connections happen between animals and people.

 

[Attack Chicken]

This is awesome! I've been thinking about getting a couple of my chooks registered. All started this was me wanting to be a bellringer (like say Walmart or something) with me holding one of my birds!

 

[Attack Chicken]

Can't find any people or classes near me

 

[peepacheep]

Attack Chicken, I found a couple of people on the evaluators directory that are in Indianopolis. Will pm the info to you.

 

[impis]

Here in the UK there is a charity which organises dogs and other animals to go into schools, hospitals, etc, to give Pet Therapy to the residents and patients. My dog, Ben, and I have been working for them for a couple of years now. Ben and I visit the elderly every week, and he has also been into schools. He has recently helped a young lady overcome her phobia of dogs. No mean feat - he's not a little cuddly dog - he's a boxer!. [but still very cuddly]
You can find out more about the UK scheme here:

http://www.petsastherapy.org/


Here he is: [not too keen on having his photograph taken!]

 

[Brindlebtch]

International Temperment Test has the person that yells at you and approaches in a threatening manner.
Surely no therapy dog tests have that?

 

[Becky89*]

Where on the website can I see where the handler courses are held. I want to be fully prepared before taking Rocket and Patches to their tests. Rocket can't handle things like gun shots, thunder and lightning. We are working on it but his improvement is slow.


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[peepacheep]

becky89, If you go to the instructor and evaluator directories on the site and plug in your state you will get a list of people and their contact info. There is a an event calendar on Delta's website but I would be more inclined to email an instructor or evaluator.

Brindlebtch, boy, the International Temperament Test sounds intense! It does not sound at all like the angry yelling part of a therapy animal evaluation. That is short, brief, off to one side and not directed at the animal or handler.

impis, What a handsome dog! I look forward to checking out the the link you posted. Thanks!