Question 1

Do you have animals for adoption or provide an adoption service?

Accepted Answer

No. Each of our volunteers uses his or her own pet for their pet-assisted therapy work. We do not have any kind of adoption service, placement or shelter available.

Question 2

What is a Therapy Animal? Is that the same thing as a Service Animal?

Accepted Answer

Under the American Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person's disability  [source]. Therapy animals are not covered by the ADA and are animals used in facilities to comfort people and give affection. Spending time with a therapy animal has been shown to lower blood pressure and heart rate, reduce anxiety and increase endorphins and oxytocin. Therapy dogs do not have to be trained to perform specific tasks like service dogs [source].

Question 3

Can you provide research information regarding pet therapy and its benefits?

Accepted Answer

There are a great deal of published studies detailing the health benefits of pet therapy. Articles by the Mayo Clinic, Kindred Healthcare and Dogtime.com are great places to start. We are not a research group and do not have any scientific data regarding the effects of our work, just the stories of our success. You can find these under Happy Tales, or you are invited to contact us for further information.

Question 4

How do I get my own therapy dog? I need one for a family member.

Accepted Answer

Our teams of volunteers and their personal pets visit hospitals, school campuses and retirement communities. At this time, we do not visit private residences or accept requests for one-on-one appointments.

You may want to contact Canine Assistants for more information on finding a dog dedicated to helping your loved one:
https://www.canineassistants.org/our-service-dogs/

And there are more resources listed on the State of Georgia's ADA website:
https://ada.georgia.gov/helpful-resources/health-and-wellness/service-animals

Question 5

I have a dog that would make a great therapy animal. Can I bring him to you for adoption or use in your program?

Accepted Answer

No, we do not board dogs or provide adoption services. Our volunteers attend visits with their own personal pet that has gone through extensive training.

Question 6

I’ve been working with my puppy, and he is making great progress. He understands basic commands. What do I do next to volunteer?

Accepted Answer

Pets must be at lease 12 months to participate in our program. Dogs must have completed Basic Obedience Training in a GROUP class with the potential member.

Please be aware that Puppy Training and Obedience Training are two different types of classes. In the meantime, we encourage you to attend our Orientation, the first step in our onboarding process, so that you can learn more about steps and paperwork required to become a volunteer.

Frequently Asked Questions