Do you think that you and your pet could make a difference as a pet therapy team? Our teams visit a variety of locations including hospitals, assisted-living facilities, residential care facilities, hospices, college campuses, airport and more.

What makes a good therapy dog?

Your pet must be:

• At least 1 year old.

• A member of your family for at least 6 months.

• Up-to-date on appropriate vaccines and on flea prevention.

To determine whether your dog might be a good candidate, consider the following:

• Are they friendly and outgoing?

• Do they enjoy being touched and pet by those unfamiliar to them?

• Do they enjoy visiting new places and meeting new people?

• Do they ride well in the car?

• Are they calm and patient in new environments?

• Can they focus and ignore other dogs when in a group setting?

If your pup meets the requirements above requirements here’s what you need to do:

1. Complete the New Volunteer Package for both yourself and the Health Certification for your pup signed by your vet. It can be found here:

2. Email the scanned completed forms to [email protected]. Please bring the original paperwork to the screening.

3. Wait to hear from us that your application has been accepted. We will let you know if your application is complete or if we are missing a piece of information that is required.

4. Once the paperwork is complete and approved, we will work with you for an open timeslot on Saturday, April 5th. The appointment times will be between 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM. There is a limited number of appointments available and registration will close once full.

5. Once we have a couple of potential times, we will provide the link to pay the $50 non-refundable screening fee for the first year. If you are screening two dogs it is a $75 non-refundable fee for the first year. All paperwork and payment is due by Friday, March 28th.

6. After payment is received, you will be confirmed for the screening and provided available times. Appointment time is not guaranteed until payment is received in fairness to other also applying. We will confirm the appointment(s) reserved for you.

7. Once you’re confirmed for the screening, please bring with you:

• Original Volunteer Application and Health Certificate

• Pup on a 4-ft non-retractable leash (if it is longer or retractable we will have leashes available for $5)

• Small hand sanitizer

• If your pup is a Service Dog, they may not where a Service Dog vest when ‘working’ as a therapy dog.

• Pup should be groomed and nails filed.

• If your dog is in heat, we will have to reschedule you to the next screening for sanitary reasons.

8. What happens post evaluation?

• Assuming you and your pup pass and become a certified team we will have some additional paperwork to be completed.

• A background check will be required.

• You will be responsible for keeping a current health certificate on file with Project Pup and anywhere that you visit. Health certificates are valid for a maximum of one year from the veterinarian evaluation or the rabies vaccination whichever comes first.

• You will be responsible for paying the annual dues on time.

• You will be responsible for scheduling visits with facilities.

• No visits are permitted with children until you are re-screened after 6-months of verifiable visits due to insurance restrictions.

• Adhere to the Dress Code. Project Pup shirts are required and will be available post screening. Vests can be ordered as well for the pups. The only exception on the dress code is if you are volunteering at a BayCare or Moffitt facility that has a volunteer dress code.

Completed paperwork and payment due no later than Friday, March 28th prior to screening.

If you have any questions please contact [email protected].