At Therapeutic Paws of Canada we offer a volunteer based therapy dog visitation programme for senior’s facilities such as retirement homes, nursing homes, Alzheimer day away centers, hospitals and where there is a need. The medical establishment has long recognized the significant benefits of a therapy dog programme. The petting and stroking of a dog helps to calm the most agitated resident and stimulates wonderful conversations about the pet they once owned. Recovery from surgery is quoted as being accelerated when there is continued contact with a pet. As a result of the many government fiscal cutbacks, the facility’s staff is stretched to their limits. The positive impact of our programme on the day-to-day life of each senior throughout our community and beyond cannot be calculated.

Many of our members have been volunteering with their therapy dog(s) for over a decade. These people bring to Therapeutic Paws of Canada a wealth of experience and expertise working with seniors and canines. We know from experience that there are many seniors that do not have the advantage of a therapy dog visit. Some of these seniors have outlived their relatives and have no one to visit them. Sometimes they are in a facility that is a distance from their family making regular visits for them very difficult. We help to fill a need and bring a little sunshine to their lonely day.

A future endeavour is to bring a dog awareness programme into our schools. It is important to reach children of all ages and teach them the do’s and don’ts of being around dogs. We welcome dedicated individuals to join us in building this exciting new therapy dog organization. The Therapeutic Paws of Canada organization is based on the needs of the community and the volunteer’s simple request to "just let me visit with my dog". We are not a multi level hierarchy of management; however, to safely administer each region we require Team Leaders and Registered Evaluators. To qualify as a Registered Evaluator with Therapeutic Paws of Canada a candidate must demonstrate significant knowledge of dog behaviour and possess hands-on dog experience gained from such activities as obedience instructor, shelter worker, dog groomer, vet tech or they may be involved in other dog activities such as agility, tracking or flyball. For those interested in either of these positions please contact the name below.

Our volunteers are covered by insurance when visiting on behalf of Therapeutic Paws of Canada.

Each canine volunteer in our visiting programme is required to successfully complete an assessment, proving they have the instincts and personality of a good therapy dog. These dogs are to display temperament that shows confidence, good manners and sociability with other dogs and people. The Therapeutic Paws of Canada Therapy Dog Evaluation is a well-developed evaluation. A nominal fee will be charged for this assessment.

In keeping with current safety factors governing volunteers our members must submit three references that will be verified. The members must submit to a police records check prior to visiting on behalf of Therapeutic Paws of Canada.

If you feel our programme offers what you’ve been looking for, then join us and make a difference in your community. To discuss our programme in greater detail please contact...