Thank you for your interest in membership with Therapy Dogs Incorporated.
Qualifications for Therapy Dogs Incorporated begin with a friendly dog, any breed or mix, and an owner/handler who has a desire to share it with those who are no longer able to own a pet, or are in a health facility separated or away from their pets. Dogs must be at least one year of age to be tested and observed.
Our process begins with a test done by one of our Tester/Observers in your area. This test includes a handling portion which tests your dog’s basic good manners and your handling skills. If you and your dog pass, you move to the next step of interacting with residents or strangers on three supervised visits.
All of these items must be completed and returned together to the corporate office in order to process your membership application in a timely manner.
Please review the following TDInc. documents so you understand what is required as a pet therapy team registered with TDInc.
TDInc. statement regarding Raw Food Diet
Due to the volume of questions concerning the feeding of a raw diet, the TDInc. Board of Directors has prepared the following statement: Therapy Dogs Inc. does not restrict the choices that members make regarding what is fed to their canine team partners. Therapy Dogs Inc. does require that participating dogs be clean and well groomed, have trimmed/filed nails, clean teeth, be free of internal and external parasites, have an annual veterinary health exam, including proof of a negative fecal exam and current rabies vaccination. Dogs must also be in compliance with state and local laws regarding, but not limited to, vaccinations and licensing. We also recommend that our handlers follow the advice of their veterinarians in regard to the general health of their companions.
YEAR ROUND HEARTWORM MEDICINE USE AND ANNUAL FECAL EXAM REQUIREMENTS
The TDInc. Board is following the recommendation of the Companion Animal Parasite Council (www.capcvet.org) in requiring annual fecal exams for all registered dogs. Dogs that are on year-round heartworm prevention may still acquire several types of intestinal parasites, such as certain protozoans and hookworms, which are transmissible to humans, and therefore still require the annual fecal exam.
For more information regarding this issue visit www.capcvet.org or www.cdc.gov/healthypets/animals/dogs.htm.