TheraPets Visits
Interacting with a therapy animal has proven to improve both physical and mental health!
Visits with TheraPets can assist in treating depression and/or anxiety, improve mental stimulation, and enhance quality of life.
When bringing TheraPets to your facility, you can be confident that the volunteer/pet team has been appropriately trained and certified. Volunteers are required to attend training as part of the certification process, ensuring they are prepared for this type of volunteer work. The safety and comfort of the people we serve are a top priority.
Our TheraPets Teams regularly visit hospitals, assisted living and long-term care facilities, hospices, rehabilitation centers, schools, shelters, and more. We are currently partnered with over 50 facilities in Central Iowa!
THERAPETS CONTACT
Volunteer Coordinator
(515) 473-9110
volunteer@arl-iowa.org
About TheraPets Visits
- Visits happen on-site at your facility and last approximately one hour
(actual visit length dependent on TheraPets’ individual needs) - The schedule of visits is agreed upon by the facility and each TheraPets Team, based on our volunteers’ availability
What to Expect From ARL TheraPets:
- Our TheraPets Teams have passed standards-based assessments
- Administrative support to address questions and/or concerns
What ARL TheraPets Expects in Return:
- One point of contact is available to our volunteers throughout the entirety of their visits
- Orientation for volunteers (as appropriate/applicable per facility)
- A clear understanding of your facility’s rules/requirements for volunteers
- A safe visiting environment for both human and pet volunteers
How to Identify TheraPets Teams:
- Handler will wear an ARL TheraPets photo ID badge
- Pet will wear an ARL TheraPet bandana and tag (as appropriate for species)
If you are interested in hosting recurring visits and becoming an ARL TheraPets Partner Facility, fill out the request form here to submit your inquiry for review.
“The residents are 3801 Grand are thrilled with the visits from the TheraPets. We have had a variety of different breeds of dogs and beautiful cats. Some of the dogs perform tricks for us, and others just enjoy being petted, just as much as we enjoy petting and interacting with them. The cats have been so much fun to have sit on our laps and purr. All of the animals have been very well-behaved and trained as therapy animals.
You just can’t put into words the enjoyment everyone in the community has experienced with our TheraPets visits. Thank you so much, Cat, for bringing ARL TheraPets to 3801 Grand!”