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Therapy ARC's
Generous Contributors and Sponsors
of our Pet
Partners
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“Compassion is to suffer with, to have empathy with,
and this includes joy and celebration, as well as
sorrow. It works from a strength borne out of a
shared weakness and an awareness of the mutuality of
us all. It’s the bond between us and also with our
animals and it includes grieving and tasting salt
with our fellow men and women.
It’s a way of life, the basis of community.
It’s the way to treat all of life.”
Leo
Bustad, DVM, PhD - founder of the Delta Society
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Pet Partner®
Process
Steps - Details
(If you wish,
print this entire page so you can have all the details available for
reference.)
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What
Makes a Good Pet Partner Team?
Click here to find out. |
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Complete
CGC® Testing (Optional) |
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Although not a required step in the
process of becoming a Pet Partner, much of the Pet Partners Evaluation
is based on the tests that comprise the Canine Good Citizen (CGC)
testing. If you are able to pass the CGC test, you should be capable of
passing the first of two key parts of the Pet Partners Evaluation, which
is the Pet Partners Skills Test (PPST). On the other hand, if you
encounter problems with the CGC testing, you will likely encounter those
same problems during the Pet Partners testing. Those who intend to
become Pet Partners are strongly encouraged to take the CGC test as
excellent preparation for Pet Partners testing. Taking the CGC test
will boost your confidence and identify any areas that you may still
need to work on in order to score ready for the Delta evaluation.
For more information on what is
covered in CGC testing,
click here.
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Attend Pet Partner Team
Training Screening |
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Pet Partner Team Training
Screenings are held several times each year to allow you to assess both
you and your animal as a potential Pet Partner Team. Screeners will
evaluate you and your animals skill and aptitude level in a relaxed and
informal setting. Participation, of both you and your animal, in the
Screening is required for placement in the Team Training Course. There
is no fee for this Screening.
click here to request an
appointment for screening |
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Attend Pet Partner Team
Training Course |
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Pet
Partner Team Training Courses are held three times each year in
Franklin. All classes are taught by licensed Delta Society Instructors.
The Course will allow you to learn from, and asking questions of, a team
of experienced Delta-licensed instructors, plus you will benefit from
interaction with classmates, discussion groups, videos, role playing and
guest speakers. When you consider the number of years you intend to
serve as a Pet Partner, your investment of time and cost spent taking
this course is well worth building the solid foundation you’ll need to
be an effective Pet Partner for years to come. The goal of our Team
Training Course is to fully prepare you to be the best possible Pet
Partner you can be. Cost for this workshop is $120.00 - this includes
the 10 week (12 -2 hour sessions) handler team training course, the Pet
Partners evaluation, and all workshop materials.
For more information on Therapy
ARC's Team Training Courses learn
more about therapy arc training courses
If you do not live in the Nashville
area, you can find a listing of scheduled Team Training Courses
on the Delta Society
website.
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Get Evaluated |
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The
evaluation is where you and your animal are assessed for skills and
aptitude to determine your readiness to become a Delta-registered Pet
Partner team. The evaluation also provides valuable input for
determining which visitation environment, e.g. predictable or complex,
that a team is prepared to successfully and comfortably visit. Delta
Society has established a set of objective criteria for assessing
whether you and your pet are prepared to effectively serve as Pet
Partners. The criteria involve thorough assessment for both skills and
aptitude. Therapy ARC evaluations are scheduled within 2 weeks
following a training workshop.
Read
more about the Evaluation process.
link broken on existing site |
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Complete Paperwork |
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Once you have scored as “Ready” on
the evaluation, you must submit the following paperwork to the Delta
Society in order to become registered as a Pet Partner (all the
paperwork can be found in the back of your training manual or can be
downloaded from the Delta Society website,
www.deltasociety.org
Photo ID Form, Application Form, Volunteer
Policies and Procedures/Indemnity Agreement Form, Volunteer Review,
Handler’s Questionnaire, Animal Health Screening Forms, Volunteer
Contact Form, and the Team Screening (evaluation results).
All the above paperwork (including
your evaluation results) is turned in to the Delta Society, along
with a $55 fee (discounted Affiliate Fee), where all things considered,
is processed for acceptance into the program. Your registration fee
covers your ID badge, collar tag for your animal and Pet Partner
Volunteer insurance for two years. Your permanent badge and tag for
your animal will arrive three to four weeks after receiving your
acceptance paperwork from the Delta Society.
Once you have
received your badge and certificate of registration from the Delta
Society, you are officially a Pet Partner team and are permitted to
conduct visits as such (congratulations!). In order to remain active as
a registered Pet Partner with all the benefits, e.g. insurance coverage,
you must be re-evaluated every two years in order to be re-registered as
a Pet Partners team.
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You're Ready! |
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Congratulations! You’re well on your way to making a difference in many
people’s lives, including your own, as you begin on the challenging and
extremely rewarding unforgettable journey of animal-assisted activities
and animal-assisted therapy. The Therapy ARC personnel will assist you
in being placed successfully at facilities of your choice and will
provide monitoring and feedback for your initial visits. You may now
also pursue other specialized opportunities with your Pet Partner such
as becoming involved in Hospice, Crisis Response, Domestic Violence, and
the numerous opportunities for Continuing Education offered.
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Ready to Start the
Process? |
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Complete the Questionnaire and a
Therapy ARC Representative will contact you to set up a Screening time
and location.
click here to request an
application for screening
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