An excellent starting point is our Welcome page which also includes detailed links to several topics.  If you have any trouble finding answers to your questions please do not hesitate to contact us directly.  Our #1 most frequently asked question is "Can My Pet Be A Therapy Pet"?  so we've devoted an entire page just to help you answer that question.  CLICK HERE to find out if your pet can be a therapy pet.  Our other most frequently asked questions often have to do with the differences between Delta Society Pet Partners and other Therapy Dog Registries such as Therapy Dogs International (TDI) or Therapy Dogs Inc..  For more information about Angel Paws, Delta Society, R.E.A.D., and how they compare to other registries please see the detailed documents below &/or visit our What Makes Angel Paws, Delta Society & Reading Education Assistance Dogs unique page.  

Please scroll down for specific answers to questions about Pets, People & our Organization

THE FOLLOWING FREQUENTLY ASKED  QUESTIONS ABOUT PETS, PEOPLE & ORGANIZATION ARE ALL ANSWERED BELOW 

1.1  Can I volunteer without a pet?   YES!  There are many opportunities to help Angel Paws.  Please visit our Auxiliary Angels page for more information about the many ways you can help without a pet. 

1.2  Can pets other than dogs be Angel Paws Pet Partners?  YES!  Any domestic pet can be a therapy pet, providing they pass the required Skills & Aptitude Test but exotic pets such as ferrets and reptiles are not currently eligible for our program.  Please CLICK HERE and Contact us for more information.

1.3  Can MY pet be a therapy pet?  Chances are very good that if you have a friendly pet who enjoys interacting with strangers in unfamiliar locaitons he/or she CAN be a good therapy pet - IF (especially dogs) you are willing to train and socialize him or her. We can not stress enough that although handlers make up 50% of the Pet Partners Therapy Team they carry 100% responsibility.  Click HERE for more information about what it takes to be a Therapy Pet.

1.4  Can puppies & kittens be therapy animals?    If you have a puppy and are interested in volunteering (or even if not) your puppies' training & socialization process should begin NOW!  However, puppies & kittens must be at least 1 year old to be tested for therapy work.  There are many reasons for this.    Please see our Puppies & Kittens page for more information.
 
1.5  Does Angel Paws provide or require dog training?   Angel Paws does  offer optional  Therapy Dog Training Classes periodically but our Pet Partners volunteers are ultimately responsible for their own dog training.  In our efforts to do everything we can to help you succeed we provide an abundance of resources and information throughout our web site about dog training and a list of excellent Recommended Dog Trainers who are familiar with our requirements.  We encourage anyone with an interest in volunteering with a dog to contact us immediately and NOT wait for our next scheduled dog training class or required Handlers Course.  Basic classes offered by our recommended trainers will include all if not most of the skills you will need to pass our skills & aptitude test and although socialization and sometimes desensitization is also required our recommended trainers can help you with that in their basic training classes as well.  Please see our extensive Dog Training pages starting with our Can MY Dog Be A Therapy Dog,   Position Statement, Leadership, socialization, equipment and other related pages for more information even and perhaps especially if you have already trained your dog.

1.6  How long will it take for my dog (or other pet) to become a registered Pet Partner?    The answer to this question, especially as applied to dogs, is usually different for everyone.  Dog training and socialization is a completely individual process which depends on too many variables (such has history, lifestyle, family environment, schedules etc.)  to predict how long it will take for any one team. Some teams may be ready now, others may take quite a bit of training & socialization depending on how much time they are willing and able to devote to practicing between classes.  We can not stress enough that although handlers make up 50% of the Pet Partners Therapy Team they carry 100% responsibility.  We encourage you to begin with Can My Pet Be a Therapy Pet page and go from there to get an idea of how much time your pet will require to be a Pet Partner if they are suitable.

1.7  Can I visit with both my pets at once?  For safe and effective AAA/T work it is important to be able to stay in tune with your Pet Partner, be constantly and vigilently aware and able to anticipate their needs and preferences at all times - while simultaneously interacting with a variety of people in what can often be an emotionally charged or even chaotic environment.  For this and other reasons Delta Society Pet Partners Therapy &/or R.E.A.D. teams consist of only 1 Therapy Pet per handler and as a Delta Society Pet Partners & R.E.A.D. affiliate group we agree to abide by all their policies & procedures that have been researched and developed over decades of experience.
   
1.8  Do you provide animals for volunteers to visit with?    Angel Paws does not provide pets for volunteers to visit with.  Our Pet Partners Volunteers visit with their own pets or any pet who is at least 1 year old, has lived with the owner for at least 6 months and they have known the dog for at least 6 months.  

1.9 Can I volunteer with my neighbor, family member or friend’s pet?   Yes!  As long as the animal has lived with the owner for at least 6 months and you have known the animal for at least 6 months you can visit with another pet with the owners written permission.  All other requirements, of course, also apply.

1.10  Can I donate my pet to be a therapy animal?   Angel Paws does not adopt animal Pet Partners but we occasionally do let our volunteers and volunteer candidates know when there are suitable pets up for adoption.  Because of the abundance of pets needing homes, we wish we could do more to help but can't promise to do this for every worthy pet needing a home as we must focus our limited resources on furthering our own Mission.  Angel Paws Pet Partners volunteers usually visit with their own pets.  However with an owners permission volunteers may work with a neighbor, friend or family members pet as long as the pet has lived with the owner for at least 6 months, they have known the pet for at least 6 months and pass the required Skills & Aptitude Test.  

1.11  Are there age, size or breed restrictions for therapy dogs/animals?   Dogs must be at least 1 year old and be able to do the work required as attested to in a comprehensive health screen by a licensed veterinarian and by a licensed evaluator in the requied skills & aptitude test but there are no other age, size or breed restrictions imposed by Delta Society.  Dogs of nearly all sizes and breeds can and have been wonderful Pet Partners - assuming, of course, that all other requirements are met! 
 
1.12  Will my pet be covered by liability insurance after we are registered?  Yes.  All registered Pet Partners Teams are covered by a $2,000,000. primary liability insurance policy as long as all policies & procedures are being followed.

1.13  My dog is already registered with Therapy Dogs International (TDI, or other registry).  Do we still have to take the Delta test to volunteer with Angel Paws?    There are many significant and important differences between various therapy animal registries and as a Delta Society Pet Partners and R.E.A.D. affiliate program all of our volunteers are required to be registered Delta Society Pet Partners which includes the Pet Partners Training, registration and Skills & Aptitude Test.  Delta Society has no restrictions on double registry for those wishing to be registered in both organizations but some of the other's do restrict registration to their own program only.  All of our Pet Partners volunteers are also required to complete our Angel Paws Training & Orientation process.  We are confident you will find our screening & training process worthwhile.  For more information about what makes Angel Paws, Delta & R.E.A.D. unique click HERE for more information.
 
1.14  My dog has already visited people in nursing homes &/or schools and everyone loved her so can we just sign up & get started? It’s wonderful that you and your dog have already experienced the rewards of “sharing the love” with those in need.  However as a Delta Society Pet Partners & R.E.A.D. affiliate organization we have agreed to uphold the standards of screening and training set forth by those organizations and we are passionate advocates for those requirements.  Our screening & training process  is required of all our Pet Partners volunteers regardless of previous experience and we are confident that you will find it worthwhile. 

1.15  I volunteer at the local Animal Shelter/Humane Society.  Can I visit with shelter dogs/cats?  It would be such a great way to get them out!  Delta Society requires that all pets must have lived with their owner for at least 6 months to be eligible for evaluation for the Pet Partners program.    It takes time for owners to bond with their pets in order to be able to predict and anticipate their needs - and to establish the trust and working relationship required for safe and effective AAA/T work.  Animals in shelters particularly are going through a rough time and it would not be fair to them or to the people they would visit to put them in a situation where they would likely experience even more stress.   For more information about what is required please visit our Can my dog me a therapy dog page.

2.  PEOPLE

2.1  Can children volunteer as Pet Partners?   Yes!  Volunteering as a Pet Partner is very rewarding for children, those we visit and is an excellent learning and character building opportunity for children.  Children must be at least 10 years old and children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.  Angel Paws requires parents of children requiring supervision to attend the Pet Partners Handlers Workshop and Angel Paws Training & Orientation as well.  Angel Paws Founder/Director is happy to write any appropriate letters of recommendation for students looking for service hours credit &/or references.  

2.2  Does Angel Paws provide volunteer training?  Yes!  All Angel Paws Pet Partners are required to complete the Delta Society Pet Partners Handlers Workshop and those who pass the Delta Society Skills & Aptitude Test will then move on to complete Angel Paws Volunteer Training & Orientation.  Please visit our Angel Paws Volunteer Training & Orientation page for more information. 

2.3  How much time will I need to commit to volunteering?  We ask our Pet Partners to commit to 1 visit every other week.  Visits usually last between 1 to 2 hours.  Never more than 2 hours with the exception of some special public events.  Some optional special requests may be made to help with special events etc.  Click HERE for a complete Angel Paws Pet Partners Services Description.  Our Auxiliary Angels volunteer as needed and available.

2.4  Are visit schedules flexible?   Yes.  Every effort will be made to accommodate your needs.  Although we do ask that volunteers try to stick with the same day of the week every other week individual visit schedules  may be changed, canceled or switched temporarily.  Volunteers frequently take extended breaks from visits to accommodate changing personal, family or work schedules.  However to try to assure clients receive visits evenly spaced rather than clumps followed by a draught we require visit scheduling changes be coordinated through the Angel Paws program director.  

2.5  Does Angel Paws visit in groups or individually?   The vast majority of our Animal Assisted Activities & Therapy work is individually scheduled rather than in groups.  We find this much more therapeutic for clients.  However we do occasionally receive special requests for group visits and special events.  Our R.E.A.D. volunteers are scheduled to visit schools and Libraries at the same time but R.E.A.D. sessions are also conducted individually. 

2.6  I'm looking for something to do with my child, friend, spouse.  Can we volunteer together?   This can probably be arranged depending on the facility and suitability of individual pets and volunteers.  Although we do try to spread visits out so that clients are not receiving clumps of visits followed by a “draught” we also try to offer as much flexibility to accommodate our volunteers preferences as possible. 
        
2.7  Why do we have to wear uniforms?   Our uniforms and photo ID’s are necessary to assure those in the facilities we work that we are not random individuals bringing animals in but rather we are a reputable organization with high standards of screening, training, program implementation and practices.  This gives clients & staff confidence and comfort so our work is therefore more therapeutic and beneficial for all.  It’s important to remember that we not only represent Angel Paws, Delta Society and R.E.A.D. but also the concept of quality AAA/T everywhere.  We wear our uniforms proudly in hopes to achieve ever greater awareness and appreciation for the full scope of health & educational benefits possible with quality AAA/T.   

2.8  Once my Pet Partner and I are registered can we visit where ever we want?   Angel Paws requests a commitment of at least 1 visit every other week in 1 or more of the facilities we partner with.  We only require 1 visit every other week primarily because of the bathing and grooming within 24 hours required by Delta Society.  There are many considerations important to include in AAA/T policies & procedures that are often overlooked such as infection control, visit logs, potential incident reports, etc. so we encourage our volunteers to stick with the facilities we partner with.  

2.9  Where do you visit?   Angel Paws partners with specific Health Care & Educational facilities who share our commitment to quality program planning and implementation.  Our volunteers usually stick with one facility but sometimes split their 2 visits per month between 2 different facilities.  See Who We Serve for more information about who we partner with. 

2.10  Does Angel Paws offer any financial assistance to committed volunteer candidates who may not be able to afford the required Delta Society fees?    Yes!  Contact us for more information or opportunities for financial assistance.  Although we wish we could offer financial assistance to everyone in need, we do need to be somewhat selective in our decisions about this offer. 
 
2.11  Can my spouse, child, friend visit with my Pet Partner after we are registered if I can't make a visit?   The Delta Society registration fee for a second handler on 1 animal is discounted (as is the fee for a 2nd animal for 1 handler) however Delta Society Pet Partners requires all Pet Partners Teams to be screened, trained and evaluated as a team for many reasons.  If friends or family members would like to visit with your Pet Partner they must also complete all required screening and training requirements.  See our Training & Registration process for more information.
    
2.12  I'm a (nurse, therapist, teacher) and want to take my pet to work with me.  What do I have to do to be registered &/or insured to do this?   All Pet Partners screening, training and registration requirements also apply to professionals interested  in volunteering with their animals.  It is important to note however that the Delta Society Pet Partners liability insurance policy only covers volunteers.  Anyone bringing their Pet Partner to work while they are being paid for their work will not be covered under the Pet Partners liability insurance policy.    There are many elements in the Pet Partners training that even the most astute professional may overlook so the Pet Partners screening and training is still highly recommended for many reasons.  We are confident you will find the process worthwhile.    

3.  ORGANIZATION

3.1  Does Angel Paws provide presentations for groups, clubs, organizations or churches?    YES!  Click HERE for more information about our presentations.
  
3.2  How do facility representatives arrange Angel Paws AAA/T visits?   Facility representatives interested in implementing one of our programs are encouraged to visit our Program Implementation page and contact us directly. 
  
3.3  Is Angel Paws &/or Delta Society different from Therapy Dogs International (TDI) or other Therapy Animal registries, organizations & clubs?   Yes.  There are many important differences between Angel Paws/Delta Society/R.E.A.D. and other therapy animal registries.  We encourage you to click HERE for a comprehensive list of those differences and download the documents included above.

3.4  Is Angel Paws a non-profit organization?  Yes.  Angel Paws is an all volunteer 501 c 3 public charity.  We are supported by generous donors and special fundraising events.  We try very hard to focus on delivering our service and not get side tracked by non essential administrative details but funds are necessary to cover recruiting, screening, training and facility program implementation costs required to provide a quality AAA/T service.  Please visit our structure & activities page for a quick look at all the activities we must fund and if you can offer any financial or in-kind support please visit our donation page.  If you would like to volunteer at our annual Santa Paws fundraising event please click here. 

3.5  Do you charge a fee for services?   Is there a required Membership Fee?    No.  Angel Paws does not charge either volunteers or facilities for any of our services.  However our programs are by no means casual or trivial.  Donations are gratefully accepted to help pay for the extensive recruiting, screening, training and program implementation costs.  Any fees required of our volunteers go straight to Delta Society, R.E.A.D. or other outside professionals or vendors.

3.6  How is Angel Paws funded?   Angel Paws is an all volunteer 501 c 3 public charity.  Although we are affiliated with Delta Society Pet Partners and Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) which are both international organizations we receive no funding from either organization.  We are supported by generous donors and special fundraising events.  We try very hard to focus on delivering our service and not get side tracked by too much fund raising but funds are necessary to cover recruiting, screening, training and facility program implementation costs required to provide a quality AAA/T service.  Please visit our structure & activities page for a quick look at all the activities we must fund and if you can offer any financial or in-kind support please visit our donation page.  If you would like to volunteer at our annual Santa Paws fundraising event please click here. 
 
3.7  Is my financial contribution to Angel Paws tax deductible?  Yes!  Angel Paws is a 501 c 3 public charity so all donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law under those tax codes.

3.8  Is Angel Paws a local or national organization?  Angel Paws Animal Assisted Activities & Therapy is an independentlocal non-profit organization founded in 2003 in Newark, Ohio.   Although we are affiliated with Delta Society Pet Partners and Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) which are both international organizations we receive no funding from either organization.  See our affiliate page for more information.  It is also interesting to note that there is another Delta Society Pet Partners affiliate by the same name (Angel Paws Animal Assisted Activities & Therapy) in Waco, Texas.  Other than the fact that we are both affiliated with Delta Society there is no relation.

3.9  How did Angel Paws get started?   Angel Paws was founded in Newark Ohio in 2003 by Patti Shanaberg.  For more information on Angel Paws' history please see our Backgrounder/Timeline page.

3.10  Does Angel Paws have a governing board of directors?   Yes,  All policy decisions are directed & approved by a governing board of directors and advisors.  Please see our Directors & Advisors page for more information.

3.11  I have complaints &/or constructive feedback for Angel Paws.  Who do I speak to?   As an organization that values diversity and believes disagreement is inherent in any creative process, often one of the most fundamentally important things we can do to help further the mission we all believe in is to offer as much honest, direct communication - for the purpose of identifying solutions as well as problems - as possible so we encourage you to communicate directly with about any complaints or constructive feedback you may have to offer, see our Statement of Core Values and  Grievance Policy for more information and further channels of communication if necessary.   Although we would prefer the opportunity to discuss and clarify your concerns directly, if you prefer to remain anonymous you may use our Contact form and simply enter "anonymous" in the first and last name slots.  Thank you for your consideration and effort to help us improve!  It is truly much appreciated!