We are expanding our Pet Therapy Program, however, the difficulty is that there are NO Delta Society Pet Partners trainer or Therapy Dogs Inc. in our area.

Are there other hospitals that accept other certifications? 

Thank you!

DOnna

We also do not have any of the training programs locally.  However, I have several people in the area who have gone out of town to get their dogs trained and certified.  You might have that as well.  Check with your local animal shelter or shelter board.  I bet someone on there knows of anyone in the area.

Although I have volunteers processed with certified therapy dogs, I have not been allowed to begin this progam at my hospital. Each time the effort has been squelched by our Infection Control Committee. 

Patty

You might also check with your state health department.  Besides requiring the usual veterinary certification ours also has a detailed test a vet can give if the dog is not Delta.  It requires specific testing and evaluation and a veterinary sign-off and is accepted here.  Good Luck!

We are not allowed to have them in waiting areas. The argument is because so many would be touching the dogs the risk of spreading infection goes up.  We feel confident we could manage this high visibility / high return area. But our IC physician has stood his ground every time we have broached the subject. However, to your specific question, the only rooms off limits are isolation rooms and only certain teams can go into the ICUs.  The ICUs are limited mainly because of the people rather than the dogs involved. Hope this helps.

Pet Visitation (both pet therapy and personal pet visitation) are not allowed for any patients who are immunocompromised or on any type of precautions. They are not allowed in any of our ICUs or Bone Marrow Transplant Units. Patients or staff can request and exception to this rule, which can only be granted by our CNO.

They are not specifically blocked from our Mother/Baby Units but they rarely, if ever go there. They visit waiting rooms throughout the facilities.