Dog-Play: Joining a Therapy Dog Group
Finding someone to certify your dog is often a frustrating experience. The evaluations offered by the national organizations aren't always as frequent and convenient as you might like.

Intermountain Therapy Animals
Non-profit organization bringing animal resources to human needs. Specializing in animal-assisted therapy in the areas of physical, occupational, speech and psychotherapies.

Dog Play
Taking pets, especially dogs, visiting people in health care facilities; therapy ranges from mental and physical stimulation; petting the dogs, formal supervised therapy addressing a particular situation.

Healing Dogs
Describes the psychological healing and support provided by service dogs, especially companion golden retrievers. Included are true stories and a psychology contest named "You vs Your Dog".

Pacific Animal Therapy Society
Pet visitations improve the wellbeing of the sick, elderly, lonely and shut-ins. P.A.T.S pets come in all shapes and sizes. While most are dogs, P.A.T.S. therapy pets include cats, rabbits, birds, goats, even a llama, a miniature horse, and a snake.

Service and Therapy Dogs
An introduction to service and therapy dogs.

My Therapy Puppy
A Belgian Tervuren puppy named Shadow visits his senior citizen friends weekly. Site includes photographs, stories, links and animal assisted therapy resources.

Service Dogs for Victims of Assault
Non-profit organization which uses dogs as therapeutic aids for victims of assault. Includes information about the dogs used and their training.

Rottweilers Can Be Friends, Therapy Dogs, Too
An entertaining article about a rescued Rottweiler with a new and rewarding job. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

Mastiffs Offer Therapeutic Companionship
The story of four giant mastiffs and their new-found roles as therapy dogs. [Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, TX]

Therapy Dogs - Getting Started
Advice, contacts, and links. Selection and training of the animal for pet therapy work.

Discovery Dogs
Program whose mission is to promote self-determination and greater independence by providing individualized assistance dog training programs for people with disabilities.

North Star Foundation
A nonprofit that breeds, trains, and places golden retrievers with children who have developmental disabilities, autism, physical challenges, or emotional problems.

Giving Unconditional Love
Fidos for Freedom is a volunteer assistance dog training organization in Baltimore. Includes information about volunteering, and service, hearing and therapy dogs.

Therapy Dog Team Training Program
Lyn Richards talks about the requirements for a good therapy dog. From her DogLogic.com site.

Therapy Dogs
Links to therapy dogs, animal-assisted therapy, and animal-assisted services, from Dog-Play.

Dog Visitation Program Overview, Children's Hospital Medical Center of Cincinnati
The Children's Hospital Medical Center of Cincinnati Dog Visitation program recruits, screens, and trains teams of volunteer dogs and their handlers to visit pediatric patients.

Pet-Assisted Therapy
Description of the pet assisted therapy program in place at the San Diego Humane Society.

SHAREing the Love
Marin Humane Society's SHARE program in Novato, California.

Alternative Solutions in Long Term Care
Animal Assisted and Pet Therapy Web Site for long term care. Information on how to set up a pet therapy clubs with children Also government regulations, nursing home information, links and resources to get you started in pet therapy.

Animal-Assisted Therapy & Activities
A guide to resources about pet therapy, courses, and the links between animal abuse, domestic violence and child abuse.

Helping Hounds Ltd.
These greyhound owners share their hounds with the community through health care facily visits, research, education, and art. Animals can improve the quality of life at all levels of society. Memphis, TN.

Therapy Animals in Loving Service (TAILS)
Tucson, Arizona, organization bringing pets for visits in nursing homes, hospitals, and children's homes.

Therapy Dogs International
A national registrar. Provides qualified handlers and their therapy dogs for visits. Training and testing programs.

Pet Therapy Association of Northern Alberta
Training, support, and coordination of volunteers and companion animals for animal-assisted therapy and animal-assisted activity in healthcare settings.

Delta Society Therapy Animals
A national registrar. Training and screening for people who want to visit hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities with their animals.

Denver Pet Partners
Training and evaluations for people and their pets interested in animal-assisted activities and therapy. Affiliated of Delta Society.

Therapy Dogs.Net
A resource for handlers of therapy dogs. Articles, links, forum, and a bookstore.

Miracle Paws Pet Therapy
Provides pet therapy for local nursing homes, hospitals, and libraries in both Maryland and West Virginia.

Halter - Miniature Horse Pet Therapy
Non-profit organization helps children and teens with learning and physical disabilities through miniature horse pet therapy

Nationwide Therapy Dog Listings and More
Articles about training visiting dogs and the benefits of pet therapy. Links to many groups un the U.S. and Canada and other resources.

585 Area Cat Handicap Training
Cats and kittens trained for handicapped persons. Companion kittens selected according to personality for a client's needs.

Chenny Troupe
Chicago-based program whose volunteers and their certified therapy dogs offer rehabilitative care to people with physical and emotional challenges. How to participate.

People and Animal Learning Services
PALS, Inc. is a therapeutic riding program for children and adults with disabilities.

Project Pooch at MacLaren Correctional Facility
When incarcerated youth offenders train homeless dogs, both get a new leash on life. In Woodburn, Oregon.

Paws With A Purpose
Non-profit pet therapy organization in Asheville North Carolina provides dogs to schools, hospitals, and retirement homes.

Paws 4 Therapy
How to start a therapy dog program in an acute care hospital setting. Step by step manual including policies and procedures is available.

Dog B.O.N.E.S.
A network of Massachusetts therapy dog volunteers. How to get involved. Getting your dog certified. Links to sites in Massachusetts seeking therapy dog visits.

Personal Ponies Ltd.
This non-profit provides miniature shetland ponies to terminally ill or disabled children. Active in most U.S. states.

Paws For Friendship - Oklahoma Chapter
Volunteer Therapy Teams (cat or dog with handler) visit healtchare facilities in Oklahoma City and other communites.

Toledo K9 MASH
Members visit hospitals and nursing homes giving comfort and companionship to children and adults. Use of therapy dogs, contact, calendar, and pictures. Affiliate of Therapy Dogs International

Tails of Joy - Animal Assisted Therapy
Provides therapeutic benefit to challenged people through the use of animals. Support and training in pet therapy. Connecticut. Volunteers certified by Delta Society Pet Partners or Therapy Dogs International.

The Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs
Non-profit organization evaluates, tests, trains, qualifies, and supports therapy dogs for the purpose of giving loving and empathic support in a variety of facilities where emotional service dogs are indispensable. Qualified members receive benefits including primary accident and liability insurance within the U.S. and Canada, therapy dog equipment, post card mailings, and quarterly newsletters.

Bark Avenue on Parade - Therapy Dogs
Provides certification and training to dog and handler teams as well as continuing education regarding animal assisted therapy. A non-profit charitable organization in St Paul - Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Therapy Dogs Inc. - Helping People Nationwide
A national registrar. Helps dog owners use their pets for therapy work. Qualifications of therapy dogs. How to have a safe visit.

Therapet Eldercare
A non-profit in El Paso, Texas. Promotes the human-animal companion bond by helping low-income elderly to care for their companion animals.

animaLINK
Michigan non-profit that works to improve lives through beneficial human-animal interactions. Program areas include therapeutic, companion, and working animal services.

San Francisco's SPCA Animal Assisted Therapy
Brings the healing presence of animals to people in health care facilities citywide. Volunteers take SF SPCA Program animals or their own pets on the visits: dogs, guinea pigs, rabbits, even cats.

Sirius Healing of Seattle
An animal assisted therapy and animal assisted activity program in Seattle, Washington. Therapy dog training to Delta Society Pet Partners standards.

Companion Animal Association of Arizona
Their social pet therapy program includes training and qualification for volunteers and their animals. Phoenix, Arizona.

The Good Dog Foundation
Works with hospitals, other health care facilities, and community organizations in the New York Tri-State Area. Qualities of a good therapy dog.

Teamwork Dog Training
A therapy dog class in Raleigh, North Carolina. Description of the Pet Partners Skills Test.

Visiting Pet Program
A New Orleans non-profit. Hospital and nursing home visits by a variety of mix-breed and pedigreed dogs and cats, Guinea pigs, and rabbits. All animals have been temperment tested during Pet and Handler Evaluationi Days.

K-9 Therapy by Vegas Westies
A group of westie owners in Las Vegas brings comfort to patients, their families, workers that care for them.

Helping Paws Animal Assisted Activities Program
Offers classes on Animal Assisted Therapy and Animal Assisted Activities. Learn the skills to qualify for certification and to have successful human interactions while doing AAT and AAA work.

H.A.R.T. - Human-Animal Relational Therapies
Therapeutic program designed to educate handlers in psychological and relational concepts to enhance their ability as animal assisted therapy facilitators. Mahopac (Hudson Valley) New York.

TherapyPets - California
Non-profit promotes animal assisted therapy. Benefits both the volunteer and those visited. Oakland, California.

Hug A Pet
Members dress their dogs up and entertain in local nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Pasco County, Florida.

Therapet Animal Assisted Therapy Foundation
Non-profit to faciliate use of animals in healing and rehabilitation of acute and chronically ill individuals. Education of volunteers, animals, and health care professionals.

Paws For Health Pet Visitation Program
Pediatric Pet Visitation at the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals Virginia Commonwealth University. Information about child-pet intereactions.

Paw-Pals
Therapy dog subsidiary of Tulsa Dog Training Club. Which dogs and owners are appropriate? Description of visits.

Twin Cities Tail-Waggers Visiting Dog Group
Part of Twin Cities (Minnesota) Obedience Training Club. How to become involved in therapy animal work.

Visiting Dogs
An article by the owner of Jake on doing therapy dog visits.

Happy Tails Pet Therapy
Paws that Heal. What they do and how to volunteer. Atlanta, Georgia.

Faithful Friends Animal-Assisted Therapy Ministry
Volunteers who want to spread joy and happiness to those in difficult situations by visiting them with their pets. Clear Lake, Texas.

DreamWorkers, Inc.
Helps dog and cat owners in the Atlanta area to volunteer their pets for animal assisted therapy and activity. Also helps find service dog volunteers.

Teton County PAL
People Animal Love is a pet partner program in Jackson, Wyoming. Volunteers visit others to provide them with the benefits of contact with an animal.

Dr. Paws - Michigan
How to get your dog certified for pet therapy. Testing and activities in several Michigan cities.

Comfort Caring Canines Therapy Dogs, Inc.
Caring volunteers share the love of their canine campanions with others. Visits seniors, children, and hospitals in southeastern PA, NJ, DE, and MD area. How to socialize a puppy for later therapy dog work.

Furry Friends Pet Assisted Therapy Services
Delivering the love and affection of volunteers and their pets to enhance lives and reopen closed emotional doors of people with special needs. Where they go. How to help. San Jose, CA.

PAWS - Pets Are Wonderful Support
Brings smiles and encouragement to the disabled, frail, and bedridden and others in need of the stimulation that pets can provide. Dogs also help kids learn to read. Orange County, CA.

St. John Ambulance Therapy Dogs
Hundreds of volunteers in all provinces of Canada. Any dog of sound temperament can become a therapy dog once they pass the St. John Therapy Dog test. Also "Therapy Dog Prayer"

Pals on Paws
They meet and train as a group. Is my dog suitable? How to join. Minneapolis Chapter of Therapy Dogs International.

Los Alamos Caring Canine Companions
LAC-3 is a dedicated group of dog owners with well-mannered, even-tempered, people-loving pet therapy canines. Guidelines for therapy dog visits.

Thera-Paws
El Paso Chapter of Therapy Dogs Internatinal. Volunteers with their TDI Certified dogs provide emotional support, education, and other aid to various groups

Hand-In-Paw
Provides registered Delta Society Pet Partner teams as therapeutic tools in medical, social service, and educational settings. An Alabama non-profit.

WAGS - Wonderful Animals Giving Support
Volunteers share their animals with others through pet visitation and therapy. Schedule of visits. Delta Pet Partner preparation and testing. Louisville, Kentucky and southern Indiana.

Healing Paws and Claws
Promotes human health using the human-animal relationship and then the human-natural world relationship. An affiliate of Delta Society in Blackstone, Virginia.

Pets on Wheels
A pet visitation therapy program serving some 16 health care centers in Scottsdale, AZ. The benefits of visits. How to start a similar program. Some members teach pet care to second graders.

Therapy Dogs of St. John's Newfoundland
Animal-assisted therapy is accepted as a therapeutic intervention which promotes positive and beneficial health effects. Description of their program and pictures of their animals.

Pet Express - Pet Therapy Club
Kids, pets, and seniors. Pet Therapy Express is a complete instruction manual on how to set up an intergenerational and pet therapy program in a seniors facility. Purchase training guide and video.

Westmoreland County Obedience Training Club - Pet Therapy
The club schedules dogs to visit many nursing homes, several hospitals, and other organizations every month. Their therapy dogs have passed a Therapy Dogs International version of the AKC's Canine Good Citizen test. Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Hounds Bring Smiles Throughout the Year
Heavenly Hounds in central Arkansas provides 25 therapy dogs to hospitals, nursing homes, and other institutioins including a prison. Registration and qualification requires, basically, a laid back dog. [Jacksonville Patriot]

Pets on Wheels, Fairfax
Volunteers and their pets provide pet therapy to improve the quality of life of area nursing home residents. Fairfax, Virginia.

Pets on Wheels of Prince George's County, Maryland
A non-profit organization dedicated to providing friendly pet visitation for residents and senior citizens of nursing care facilities. Events, volunteers, and donations.

Pets on Wheels, Charles County
Arranges for volunteers and their pets to visit residents of nursing homes and provide pet facility therapy. Emphasis on patients with impaired cognitive abilities. Charles County, Maryland.

Pets On Wheels, Delmarva
Volunteer teams of pet and handler visit nursing homes, assisted living homes, homes for the handicapped, and other facilities. On some days, a visit may be the only contact from the outside world for a resident.

Paws for Love
A program by ElPaso, Texas, Humane Society which promotes healing by bringing pets and people together in nursing homes and healing facilities. All teams are Delta Society certified.

National Capital Therapy Dogs, Inc.
The Caring Canines: offers Animal-Assisted Activities (AAA) and Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) services, primarily to health care facilities in Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and surrounding areas. How to volunteer. How to have them visit a facility.

Caring Canines: Boston Pet Therapy Program
Typical visit to nursing home is four to six dogs in a community room. Other programs include a crises response team. Pictures of the animals and friends. Visiting Therapy Dogs, Inc.

Oklahoma Dog Programs
Combines three sites. American Dog Obedience: school for therapy dogs and handlers. Reaching People Through Dogs: for educators, health care professionals, and volunteers around the US. Petworks in Progress: non-profit group of therapy dog volunteers in central Oklahoma.

Caring Critters
People and their animals participate in Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) activities. Over 200 volunteers visit over 20 facilities in the greater Houston area. A non-profit organization.

Heart of Texas Therapy Dogs
Animal Assisted Therapy dog organization in Dallas metro area. Membership information and where they visit. Affiliated with Therapy Dogs, Inc.

Dog Motivates Woman to New Business
Her dog helped her through the pain of spinal cord injury. Now Kate Nicoll uses Bear in her business of social work. [Record-Journal, Meriden, CT]

Study Links Animal Abuse to Home Violence
Domestic abuse and animal abuse go together. Therapy dogs teach empathy to women and children in a shelter. [Columbus Online Community, Nebraska]

Potential Benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy for Children with Special Needs
For children with special needs, the ability to interact with a dog, cat, or other furry friend can have a very positive impact upon their quality of life.

Green Chimneys Children's Services, Inc.
Animal Assisted Therapy as practiced at Green Chimneys Farm and Wildlife Center. AAT does not "use" animals, but works in conjunction with the animal's basic temperament and capacities.

The Healing Power of Animals
Troubled youngsters from Green Chimneys bring farm animals to disabled children at Ferncliff Residence. To school children and hospital patients, even to families of Ground Zero victims, animals prove their worth as therapists. An article from "Spirituality & Health."

ERIC: Animal-Assisted Therapy in Counseling and School Settings
The use of animals in clinical psychology, including goals, methods, and results.

Animal Assisted Therapy at Good Shepherd
The AAT program at Good Shepherd Theraputic Center includes nursing home visits, theraputic riding, and wildlife rescue. In Warm Springs, Georgia.

Utah Animal-Assisted Therapy Association
UAATA is a non-profit organization based in Salt Lake City dedicated to bringing comfort, love and hope to those in need through the miracle of the human-animal bond.

Canine Good Citizen Program
American Kennel Club's CGC is a ten item test to qualify a dog for therapy work. Includes the test procedure and how to find an evaluator.

Prison Pet Partnership Program
Inmates at a correctional facility for women learn how to train, groom, and board dogs within the prison walls. A feeling of satisfaction directly contributes to the mental and physical wellness of all who are involved.

Pets Helping People
Non-profit organization prepares people to use their pets in visits to nursing homes, schools, and half-way houses. Certifies animals in Canine Good Citizen, Feline Good Citizen, and Therapy Dog International. Serves Southeastern Wisconsin. Based in New Berlin which is just west of Milwaukee.

What is Animal Assisted Therapy?
Crossroads Group Home uses an Animal Assisted Therapy program stressing the benefits of animals and birds of many varieties to its residents.

AATProfessionals Listserve
Practice Animal Assisted Therapy, or for persons who intend to use AAT after completing their degree programs, exams, licensures.

Pet Therapy - Honoring Our Elders
An active Pet Therapy program that brings dogs and young people to visit residents of nursing homes in the Sarasota, Venice, and Brandenton area of Florida.

Paws & Hearts
Enrich the lives of seniors and children with one-on-one attention that only a four-legged healer can provide." In Palm Desert, CA.

Jackie's List
A directory of Animal Assisted Therapy programs and services. Site is in Fargo, North Dakota, but the list covers all of the United States.

Nose-to-Nose
Book about a therapy dog in the United States, as well as general information about this form of training and service.

High Desert Obedience Club "Pet Pals"
Pictures of their therapy dogs in action. Training and testing available. In Antelope Valley and Lancaster, California.

St. John Ambulance Halton Hills Therapy Dogs
Dogs and their human partners visit nursing homes and other institutions to share the unconditional love of a pet with residents. The Halton Hills Division serves North Halton, Ontario (Milton, Georgetown, Acton).

DOGTORS Animal-Assisted Therapy
Training and certification of Animal-Assisted Therapy teams in the Miami Valley area of Ohio. Home of DOGTORS University and DOGTORS On-Call Emergency Services.

Central Ohio Good Shepherds
COGS: Qualified therapy dogs visit institutions, facilities, and other locations in the Columbus Metropolitan area. A TDI chapter. Photo gallery and a list of facilities.

Blind Students Love These Dog Days
Garnet, a 75 pound shepherd, helps students at Perkins School for the Blind. She adjusts her level of play to a child's ability. The dog has protected some students by sensing an oncoming siezure. [The Boston Globe]

Exotic Animals Work Their Magic
A camel named Kazzy visit residents of a seniors rehabilitation center. Other exotic animals visit as well. [Los Altos Online, Los Altos, CA]

Pet Therapy, Pets and Stress Relief
Therapeutic use of pets for a wide variety of patients. Animals provide comfort and bring out our nurturing instinct. They make us feel safe and unconditionally accepted. We can just be ourselves.

Prescription Pet Program
RxPets dog assisted therapy started in 1984 by Children's Hospital and Denver Area Veterinary Medical Society. Almost half the inpatients at The Children's Hospital are offered a dog visit every day.

Paws for Health
Courses and evaluations for people and their dogs who want to be nationally registered Therapy Dog teams. Also trains for Reading with Rover. In Woodinville, WA.

Paws'itive Teams - Therapy Dog Prep School
Fun but serious six-week course to prepare both owner and dog for involvement with animal-assisted therapy programs. San Diego, CA.

Therapy Dogs Singapore
Caring owners share the unconditional love and affection of their dogs with the underpriviledged and provide pet-assisted therapy (PAT) to meet their physical and emotional needs.

Inmates Get Therapy from Pets
Pet Therapy program at Autry State Prison, Georgia. Visits by dogs relieve depression and teach responsibility. Almost 400 of the 1500 inmates participate. [WALB-TV]

Hospice Dog Comforts the Ailing and the Grieving
The son of a hospice patient describes the benefits of having a resident therapy dog in the facility. [Lexington Herald-Leader, KY]

Bunny Brngs Soft Touch to Therapy
Bogart, a 2-year-old Dutch rabbit, helps break down the barriers that some patients helps. Works with clinical social worker Terri Brown at Adult, Child and Family Counseling in Wichita.[Wichita Eagle]