Traditional Therapy Dog Organizations
The following is based on my last interactions. Check their websites for updated information.
https://k9forchrist.org/ – This is the Christian organization. The only downside would be if the place you wanted to enter didn’t feel comfortable with a Christian presence. There isn’t much guidance or oversight. Tina and I are the leaders of about 10 teams in Broward County. There are about 600 teams throughout the country. The only test is the AKC CGC plus some paperwork from the website
https://www.therapydogs.com/ – THis is Alliance of Therapy Dogs. It is a national org and I have been with them like 8 years. There is very little oversight, the test was more of visiting a place with a testor. You’d have to contact them to find the closest tester.
https://catdogs.org/ – This is where I started about 11 years ago. At that time there was a LOT OF OVERSIGHT and DIRECTION which is good if you have no idea of what you are doing or no other guidance. They do an orientation, then test you at their place, then send you on a visit with one of their people. After that there is another test to be around children. A big benefit of this place is once you pass their tests they have a list of places to go.
https://www.vitas.com/volunteer/volunteer-opportunities/paw-pals-volunteers – This is VITAS, the Hospice Org. The big difference with this one is it ONLY DOES HOSPICE CARE (end of life visits), and when i was checking it out THEY PAID FOR EVERYTHING…. Tina is active with them.
The following are CRISIS ONLY Organizations
(many of the larger TD orgs have internal groups that serve as their Crisis Response dogs)
https://www.hopeaacr.org/ – This is a NATIONAL PRIMARILY CRISIS ONLY ORG. Their main purpose is crisis, not visiting grandma at a nursing home or students at a school. You have to travel and pay for all testing and pay for activities. This org was listed on the FEMA website.
https://crisisresponsecanines.org/ – This and HOPE and the two BIG Crisis only groups that I know of
https://www.crisiscanines.org/teams – this is a small crisis only group from up north. Tina is with them. SHe did the tests by sending in a video