Evaluators Assistants for Pet Partners Skills & Aptitude Tests
WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU!
WELCOME & Thank you for your interest! Please click here if you'd like to start with our welcome letter.
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"I just want to tell you how impressed I was last night. Your demonstrated dedication, organization and knowledge beyond
what I imagined. I am looking forward to learning how I can continue to volunteer for Angel Paws and for you. Thank you." - Teresa Carman, Angel Paws Evaluators Assistant FREE T-SHIRT & CERTIFICATE FOR ALL VOLUNTEERS! Next 2017 Tests will possibly be scheduled for: August/September - dates TBA Approx 5:30-9:30pm - times and dates to be confirmed based on candidate participation Possible September/October dates TBA - see below for address & map |
Thank you so much for your interest in helping with our PPSAT!
Preparation is Key!
Delta Society is now Pet Partners
In order to conduct the required Pet Partners Skills & Aptitude Tests every licensed evaluator must have at least 3 assistants, a Neutral Dog Team (Click HERE for more information about the Neutral Dog Team) and a Registration Hostess. (Click HERE to return to a complete list of other ways Auxiliary Angels can help)
Assisting at Pet Partners Skills & Aptitude Tests is a wonderful opportunity for anyone interested in contributing to a good cause, meet and greet a variety of animal lovers, work with other Angel Paws volunteers, Licensed Pet Partners Evaluator/Instructor, and learn more about animal behavior & therapy animal team testing! For anyone interested in becoming a Pet Partner it's an excellent opportunity to learn first hand about the test, exactly how it is conducted and scored. For registered Pet Partners it's a wonderful way to "pay it forward" in honor of the generous volunteers who were there for previous tests.
All Pet Partners Skills & Aptitude Tests are conducted by a licensed Team Evaluator and follow all Pet Partners® Standards of Practice for Evaluations. Consistency among animal/handler teams and smooth transitions from one exercise to another with experienced assistants is especially important to the integrity of our program so your continued participation, schedules permitting, will be very much appreciated!
Your assistance in evaluations may be requested for group role-playing sequences (described below), neutral dog exercises or to stand in for the evaluator in case there is familiarity between the evaluator and the animal being evaluated. Your assistance may also be requested for the hostess/registration desk &/or setting up and dismantling the evaluation room. It is requested that you arrive 1 hour prior to the first scheduled test especially if you have never assisted before.
Pet Partners' Evaluators Assistant Orientation Package (below left) is important for all assistants to review carefully along with the exercises and sequences that require assistants as described below. Please also review the exercises detailed below.
Assisting at Pet Partners Skills & Aptitude Tests is a wonderful opportunity for anyone interested in contributing to a good cause, meet and greet a variety of animal lovers, work with other Angel Paws volunteers, Licensed Pet Partners Evaluator/Instructor, and learn more about animal behavior & therapy animal team testing! For anyone interested in becoming a Pet Partner it's an excellent opportunity to learn first hand about the test, exactly how it is conducted and scored. For registered Pet Partners it's a wonderful way to "pay it forward" in honor of the generous volunteers who were there for previous tests.
All Pet Partners Skills & Aptitude Tests are conducted by a licensed Team Evaluator and follow all Pet Partners® Standards of Practice for Evaluations. Consistency among animal/handler teams and smooth transitions from one exercise to another with experienced assistants is especially important to the integrity of our program so your continued participation, schedules permitting, will be very much appreciated!
Your assistance in evaluations may be requested for group role-playing sequences (described below), neutral dog exercises or to stand in for the evaluator in case there is familiarity between the evaluator and the animal being evaluated. Your assistance may also be requested for the hostess/registration desk &/or setting up and dismantling the evaluation room. It is requested that you arrive 1 hour prior to the first scheduled test especially if you have never assisted before.
Pet Partners' Evaluators Assistant Orientation Package (below left) is important for all assistants to review carefully along with the exercises and sequences that require assistants as described below. Please also review the exercises detailed below.
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EVALUATORS ASSISTANT ORIENTATION PACKAGE
(this document alone does not suffice for exercise sequence familiarization described below) Please click on Fullscreen to view |
PET PARTNERS SKILLS & APTITUDE TEST OVERVIEW
Please click on Fullscreen to view |
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Following are the exercises that require assistants. Your willingness to help is MUCH appreciated. We couldn't do it without you! Exercises 6 through 10 are skills exercises. Exercises D through G are aptitude Exercises. The Evaluator will bring "cheat sheets" and run through a few practice runs before our first official test but it is very important to familiarize yourself with the exercises in advance. Some variations of video samples may apply. Assistants do not interact with teams prior to or in between these exercises which are designed to simulate interaction with "strangers". * IMPORTANT NOTE FOR ASSISTANTS UNABLE TO ARRIVE 1 HOUR PRIOR TO FIRST TEST: Training is required prior to the first test because assistants must know & be able to execute their roles without instruction once the test begins: how each exercise flows into the next, timing, etc. Any assistants unable to arrive 1 hour in advance of the first test will only be able to participate in #6, Walk through a Crowd & #G, Crowded & Petted by several people at once. AND it will be very important for those assistants to be informed in advance. Those exercises are marked with a *
* Exercise 6 - Walking Through a Crowd
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Exercise 7 - Reaction to Distractions
Purpose: This exercise demonstrates that the animal remains calm and confident when faced with common distractions.
Procedure: While walking back to the beginning location from Exercise 6, the team will be exposed to one visual and one auditory distraction from a distance of no closer than 10 feet. The distractions may include a person who is running, rolling in a wheelchair, dropping a crutch, pushing a metal cart, snapping a plastic bag open, or dropping noisy items. The animal may express a natural interest and curiosity and may appear slightly startled, but should not: Panic, Struggle or try to run away, Vocalize, Show aggressiveness or Eliminate. The handler should be aware of the animal's needs and give praise or encouragement as needed. (timing on the assistants part is key)
Procedure: While walking back to the beginning location from Exercise 6, the team will be exposed to one visual and one auditory distraction from a distance of no closer than 10 feet. The distractions may include a person who is running, rolling in a wheelchair, dropping a crutch, pushing a metal cart, snapping a plastic bag open, or dropping noisy items. The animal may express a natural interest and curiosity and may appear slightly startled, but should not: Panic, Struggle or try to run away, Vocalize, Show aggressiveness or Eliminate. The handler should be aware of the animal's needs and give praise or encouragement as needed. (timing on the assistants part is key)
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Exercise 8-10 - Passed Between Strangers
(assistants required only for small pets to be passed between strangers as a substitute for "Sit" "Stay" & "Down")
Purpose: For small dogs, other small animals and equines, these exercises demonstrate that the animal will accept being passed from one person to another and will remain where placed.
Procedure: Sit and Down - The animal will be passed (by handler) to three strangers' laps. The handler can talk to and pet the animal during this portion of the exercise. In the case of equines the lead will be passed from stranger to stranger for visiting.
Stay in Place - The animal is placed in a stranger's lap or on a table for 30 seconds. The animal must stay where placed. Standing next to the animal, the handler continues to hold the animal's lead and may reassure the animal, but not pet it. During the 30-second wait, the evaluator or an assistant pets the animal. In the case of equines the lead will be passed from stranger to stranger for visiting.
Procedure: Sit and Down - The animal will be passed (by handler) to three strangers' laps. The handler can talk to and pet the animal during this portion of the exercise. In the case of equines the lead will be passed from stranger to stranger for visiting.
Stay in Place - The animal is placed in a stranger's lap or on a table for 30 seconds. The animal must stay where placed. Standing next to the animal, the handler continues to hold the animal's lead and may reassure the animal, but not pet it. During the 30-second wait, the evaluator or an assistant pets the animal. In the case of equines the lead will be passed from stranger to stranger for visiting.
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Exercise D - Staggering/Gesturing Individual
Purpose: This exercise demonstrates that the animal will exhibit confidence when a person acting in an unusual manner approaches. It also shows that the handler has the social skills to interact with a stranger while attending to the animal.
Procedure: A person with an unsteady gait and wearing a shawl, or someone using an assistive device such as a walker, will approach the animal, gesturing wildly, and/or wailing. The person will stop staggering from 6 feet away then call the animal to approach or will otherwise attract the animal's attention. If the animal appears comfortable, the person will pet the animal. It's very important that the assistant not get closer than 6 feet or look directly into the eyes of the animal while staggering and gesturing, but eye contact is encouraged while interacting closely IF they animal is comfortable. Assistant should not overt stress signals and stop staggering and gesturing if overt stress signals are evident.
Procedure: A person with an unsteady gait and wearing a shawl, or someone using an assistive device such as a walker, will approach the animal, gesturing wildly, and/or wailing. The person will stop staggering from 6 feet away then call the animal to approach or will otherwise attract the animal's attention. If the animal appears comfortable, the person will pet the animal. It's very important that the assistant not get closer than 6 feet or look directly into the eyes of the animal while staggering and gesturing, but eye contact is encouraged while interacting closely IF they animal is comfortable. Assistant should not overt stress signals and stop staggering and gesturing if overt stress signals are evident.
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Exercise E - Angry Yelling
Purpose: This exercise demonstrates that the animal will not be upset when someone exhibits strong emotions and that the handler can help the animal tolerate such a situation.
Procedure: Two people will begin to shout angrily at each other and wave their arms. The "Angry Yelling" must NOT be directed at the handler or the animal; it will take place approximately 6 feet to one side of them. The animal may startle but should recover. The duo will stop yelling from no closer than 6 feet away and begin to act "neutral". One of the people will then call the animal to see if it will approach. Timing is key so as to gradually escalate yelling but not get closer than 6 feet.
Procedure: Two people will begin to shout angrily at each other and wave their arms. The "Angry Yelling" must NOT be directed at the handler or the animal; it will take place approximately 6 feet to one side of them. The animal may startle but should recover. The duo will stop yelling from no closer than 6 feet away and begin to act "neutral". One of the people will then call the animal to see if it will approach. Timing is key so as to gradually escalate yelling but not get closer than 6 feet.
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Exercise F - Bumped from Behind
Purpose: This exercise demonstrates that the animal is able to recover when a person bumps into it. It also shows that the handler can both tolerate the animal being bumped and assist the animal to recover from the surprise.
Procedure: The assistant or evaluator may use their leg or ankle to bump the dog. For animals that are being carried, the evaluator bumps the handler lightly on the opposite side of where the animal is carried. If the animal is in a stroller the stroller is bumped.
Procedure: The assistant or evaluator may use their leg or ankle to bump the dog. For animals that are being carried, the evaluator bumps the handler lightly on the opposite side of where the animal is carried. If the animal is in a stroller the stroller is bumped.
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* Exercise G - Crowded and Petted by Several People
Purpose: This exercise demonstrates that the animal will tolerate crowding and petting by several people at once. The handler must have the social skills to interact with the group while attending to the animal and looking out for its well-being.
Procedure: At least three people, arriving one at time, will gather closely around the animal and begin to touch it. One of them will be using healthcare equipment. If the team seems to be enjoying the interaction, the evaluator may increase the intensity of the interaction to help aid in proper placement of the team (e.g. Predictable vs. Complex). The interaction is typical rather than exuberant and clumsy but intensity may increase as indicated. Assistants will be mindful of stress signals in the dog and be very careful not to add to the stress of the dog if he/she is showing signs of stress.
Procedure: At least three people, arriving one at time, will gather closely around the animal and begin to touch it. One of them will be using healthcare equipment. If the team seems to be enjoying the interaction, the evaluator may increase the intensity of the interaction to help aid in proper placement of the team (e.g. Predictable vs. Complex). The interaction is typical rather than exuberant and clumsy but intensity may increase as indicated. Assistants will be mindful of stress signals in the dog and be very careful not to add to the stress of the dog if he/she is showing signs of stress.
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Click HERE for more information about the rest of our Pet Partners Skills & Aptitude Test
If you have an interest in assisting our director with on-going activities please click HERE
If you have an interest in assisting our director with Columbus volunteer development please click HERE
THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO HELP! YOU ARE AN ANGEL!
Many thanks to the Licking County Aging Program for donating this wonderful space!
Directions: From Newark - take Rt. #16 East to O'Bannon Ave exit, turn Right on O'Bannon Ave. to East Main St., turn Left on East Main St., LCAP is on the left in a large natural brown building (as pictured upper right) at 1059 East Main St., Newark, OH - Look for the LCAP logo included in the signs from the street as pictured above.
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Licking County Aging Program, 1058 E. Main St., Newark, OH
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