Medical Malpractice

Where do i start if i want to bring dogs into hospitals for therapy?

I have a repore with dogs. I am a elementary teacher and musician. I want to be a dog therapist and bring my big dog around to help people. Where do i start? Can i make a career and be comfortable? And what expenses to expect? I live in NYC WHAT next??? Thanks

Public Comments

1. I would check with your local hospitals, nursing homes etc. They should be able to give you the info you want.
2. I am not sure that there is a career in it, but there sure is plenty of personal satisfaction. Some of these pets bring so much happiness to people in hospitals that they are like medicine themselves! As for where to start, I would suggest investigating local groups that already go to hospitals. They can point you in the right direction. It may also be a good idea to take your dog through canine good citizen training, to be certified. That way you can be sure that he is going to be good for it. One of my dogs would love the people, but be a complete idiot around things like wheel chairs. And lastly, check with local hospitals to see what requirement they would have for any animal coming in for therapy. There are certain things that you have to be very careful of, depending on the illness of the people you are seeing. Good luck and I hope you really get to do what you want!
3. 1. most therapy dogs are volunteers, not for pay. the few that are paid... I wouldn't plan on it being a career. 2. Your dog needs to be calm around people, and not get too excited. he/she needs to be calm since the majority of people you will be in contact with are children in long term care at the hospital for things like cancer... and the elderly at nursing homes. 3. while some hospitals don't have size requirements, others require the dogs be small to medium. So you will have to see what size the dogs are allowed to be. 4. They need to be well trained and socialized. 5. Most therapy dogs need to be certified as therapy dogs in some states. Where I live they need to be certified... where my aunt lives they don't. (She actually has a therapy dog.) So you need to call your municipality to see if your dog needs to be certified or not.
4. Most people doing therapy visits are volunteers. Those making careers of it already have degrees in psychology and are licensed therapists. They use therapy dogs as a tool in their practices. For volunteer work, you start with the facilities you want to visit. Ask them what they require. Some just want proof of vaccinations, some want insurance or certification. Some want certification from a specific agency. The top three service dog agencies in the U.S. are: http://www.deltasociety.org http://www.tdi-dog.org http://www.therapydogs.org The costs are the cost of testing and annual registration (which should include liability insurance), usually around $30/year, gas for travel, and the regular care and upkeep of your dog.