Pet Therapy & Humane Education
Our Pet Therapy and Humane Education team is composed of volunteers with their certified pet therapy animals who visit those in need of kindness and compassion, as well as promote love and caring for animals through educational presentations geared toward children, adults or seniors. Most visits take place weekdays between 9 and 5, so it is preferable you have at least some monthly availability in that time frame.
Our team provides the following services. Please click on each one for more detailed information.
HOW TO BECOME A CERTIFIED PET THERAPY TEAM MEMBER
Team members must have some weekday availability, mostly during the daytime hours of 9-5. There are occasional evening or weekend visits/events, but these are not typical.
Each handler and his/her pet are first required to attend a Pet Therapy Handler’s Group Session, which will help you understand how Pet Therapy works and how you can keep your pet safe during the visit. These will be scheduled periodically and you will be notified of the date(s).
Next, you and your pet must pass a comprehensive hands-on test to be certified as a Pet Therapy Team. You and your pet are tested as a team. Your animal can participate in MCSPCA programs with you only. If other family members want to participate, they must go through the entire process separately and be tested separately with your pet.
For a very important list of the QUALIFICATIONS FOR A MCSPCA PET THERAPY ANIMAL, please click here.
Lastly, you will be required to attend a MCSPCA General Volunteer Orientation which provides you basic information about our shelter which you can share with the public during your visits. A Social Security and Criminal History background check is required at a $27 one time fee at the Orientation. Please click here to learn more about general volunteering!
An annual Therapy Program fee of $20 may be required for participation. You will also receive a Monmouth County SPCA Pet Therapy vest to use on your pet. Our Pet Therapy and Humane Education Managers will send out emails periodically advising of the available opportunities for you and your pet.
If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact us at [email protected].