St. John Ambulance (Therapy Dog Volunteer Team)
Organization Name: St. John AmbulanceOpportunity Title: Therapy Dog Volunteer Team
Category: Social and Community Service
Commitment: Ongoing Opportunity (> 1 year)
Start Date: July 13, 2017
End Date: July 31, 2099
Email: trisha.oleary@sk.sja.ca
Website: http://www.sja.ca/English/Pages/default.aspx
Details:
- Background/police check required
- Appropriate for volunteers aged between 18 and 55
- Appropriate for volunteers aged 55 and over
Program Details
Therapy dog services are provided in a wide range of community settings such as:
- Hospitals
- Seniors residences and care facilities
- Schools, universities and colleges
- Community centres and libraries
The therapy dog program provides an opportunity for individuals to:
- Talk with the volunteer and the dog
- Feel, touch, pet and cuddle the dog
- Receive unconditional love from the dog
- Carry-out or practice an activity in the presence of the dog
The program offers many benefits, improving quality of lives. Some of the reported benefits include:
- Greater social engagement with individuals/residents talking more, participating more in activities, and smiling more
- Stress relief and distraction from pain
- Comfort and calming
- Improved self-confidence and esteem
Are you interested in becoming a Therapy Dog volunteer?
We are always looking for individuals who wish to provide health care-oriented volunteer service within their community using their dog to assist.
Therapy dog volunteers must be:
- 18 years of age or older
- Physically and mentally capable of performing the activities that are reasonable for the type of service they may be providing
- Willing to complete an application process and a criminal record check
- Successfully participate in an evaluation
- Able to provide up-to-date veterinarian documents indicating that all required vacinations are current.
In order to be considered for the program,
- Dogs must be at least ONE year of age;
- Dogs must not be fed a raw-meat diet;
- Dogs must be on a regular regimen of veterinary vaccinations for rabies, parvovirus, distemper, and adenovirus.
Volunteers and their dogs are generally expected to provide regular visits in order to develop a bond with their designated patients.