Animal-assisted therapy has been shown to promote emotional well-being and contact with gentle animals provides comfort and helps people to be happier.  

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Establishments joining the programme are contacted or visited by the local Team Leader. This is an opportunity to explain the programme and answer any questions that you or your staff may have before visits commence. Volunteers visit their matched establishment on a weekly or fortnightly basis.  

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The visits are approx. one hour in length. We ask for an annual koha to help pay ongoing administrative costs. 

The establishment will be asked to complete both an information form, and programme agreement with Community Pets.  

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How do we check the suitability of our volunteers?  

All volunteers joining the programme have passed a Ministry of Justice vetting. Their pet has passed a pet assessment test and the volunteer, and their pet have been able to demonstrate that as a “team”, they can work together in all environments and the pet is always under control.  

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Volunteers may wish to visit or meet with you before their first day with their pets. This is an opportunity to sight the areas they will visit with their pets, meet staff and to confirm what procedures you would like to them to follow when visiting.  

Our visits are on the same day and time each week and can be changed if both parties agree. 

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What do we need from you?  

Staff are required to be available for new volunteers for at least the first two visits.  

This is also an ideal opportunity to point out any residents that may have allergies, or those that may not be keen on pets. 

If our volunteer is visiting a Dementia or Mental Health Unit, we require a staff member to always be with them.  

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We always endeavour to work to a professional and high standard. Our volunteers are required to wear uniforms, the pets wear a bandana and are required to always be under control of the owner.   

                                                                                                                   

The volunteers are expected to contact you if they cannot make their scheduled time, and report to you any problems including housekeeping incidents should they occur. We also require you to advise our volunteer is that are not required for a certain visit e.g. illness in the facility.