Thank you for expressing an interest in our Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) program.
Please consider what you would like the event to achieve and how you envision achieving this goal. The process of coordinating the matching of AAT volunteers to an event may take some time. If possible, we recommend that you submit your request at least a month in advance of your anticipated event date.
Animal Assisted Therapy offers enormous benefits to people and ensures that they will live richer and fuller lives by being in the presence of an animals.
There is no fee for a pet therapy visit, though donations to the shelter are always greatly appreciated.
Please note that we are currently limited to serving only Broward and south Palm Beach counties.
PET THERAPY GUIDELINES FOR EVENTS
The following guidelines are designed to ensure a safe and positive environment for pet therapy interactions at your event.
The event must assign a staff member or volunteer as the point of contact for HSBC therapy volunteers. This person will assist the therapy volunteers with navigating the event and address any needs or concerns that come up.
Volunteers should receive clear instructions on key logistics and expectations for the event, including designated areas for animal breaks, waste disposal, parking, and the sign-in process upon arrival.
Additionally, a staff member/volunteer must accompany AAT volunteers during an event. AAT volunteers are not permitted to be left alone with attendees, especially if the attendees are children.
If the event has loud music playing, the pet therapy area must be set up away from the speakers. Preferably on the opposite side of the venue, a corridor, or an area where the volume of the music is diminished.
The facility or event should ensure safe visits for pet therapy volunteers and their animals by limiting the number of participants around them at any given time. This helps maintain safety and reduces potential stress for the therapy animals.
If the event is at a school, students must be informed in advance about the proper way to interact with the therapy animals. This includes approaching the animals calmly and avoiding crowding them.
Please note that outdoor events are only attended in cooler months. Typically, October through March are cool enough for our beloved therapy pets. If the temperature is above 80 degrees outside, the therapy animals must be able to be inside.
