One of the most frequent requests made by Allay's hospice patients are for visits from a friendly, certified therapy dog or therapy cat. Therapy animals have the endearing quality of showing unconditional love & affection that brings joy to everyone. They are a remarkable source of comfort & companionship, as well as a welcome distraction from the daily routine for both hospice patients and their families. Contact with furry companions can be especially meaningful to patients who are no longer able to care for their own beloved pet.
Would you be able to help us fulfill some of those requests within your own community?
While many pets provide love and companionship in the home, not all of them have the temperament suited for this type of service. We require all therapy animal teams must have completed training and assessment with a recognized Animal-Assisted Therapy program before visiting hospice patients. (And, the human-half will receive additional training related to hospice visitation.)
- If your pet is already certified as a therapy animal, Congratulations! You are already well on your way to joining Allay's Therapy Dog Team.
- If your pet has not been through the certification process, we can get you the resources to help you to get started.
Volunteer and patient safety are our top priority. We follow CDC guidelines & respect the Covid-19 protocols of our partner facilities. At this time, volunteers are asked to complete a self-screening checklist prior to visits, wear a mask during visits and, or course, adhere to standard precautions such as frequent handwashing. Allay will provide the necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to ensure safe practices can be followed.
Contact Peggy Czarnik, Volunteer Services Mngr, for more info: 262-317-5233 or pczarnik@allayhh.com
