$20 paid to Sterling Volunteers
As a volunteer organization, we care about our program and the quality of the individuals who help us. ATD feels it is important to assure we are bringing in Members who are trustworthy. A background check provides the facilities we visit with a sense of comfort that our volunteers have been properly screened. Background checks prior to testing will also help to keep our insurance premiums low and thus, keep your yearly fees low. The cost for the background check is $20.00, which also allows you to share the results with other organizations. The first share with one other organization is free.
Are you under 18? Junior Handlers do not need to complete a background check.
ATD will only accept background checks completed through Sterling Volunteers. To begin your background check, click on the button below.
Download, review, and ensure you have your ATD Health Verification Form completed by your veterinarian. Sign and date your application page and Assumption of Risk and Release of Liability Form. Then find a volunteer Tester/Observer (T/O) in your area to test you and your dog for free as soon as the T/O can accommodate you. The test includes a Handling Assessment, which assesses your dog’s basic good manners and your handling skills. After the Handling Assessment of the test, you and your dog must interact with residents or strangers on 3-4 supervised visits while being observed by a T/O. Your T/O will then sign off on your paperwork to show that you are ready to become a Member of ATD. You’ll need to bring the completed paperwork to the test.
Click the button below to download our membership package that includes the ATD Member Application.
After the Handling Assessment of the test, you and your dog must interact with residents or strangers on 3-4 supervised visits while being observed by a T/O. Your T/O will then sign off on your paperwork to show that you are ready to become a Member of ATD.
Click the button below to visit our portal where you can see a list of Volunteer Testers/Observers closest to you.
After completing the ATD Certification Test, please send us the following documents:
Teams may submit their completed forms via email, fax, or standard mail. If submitting by email, we recommend retaining the original hard copies for your records. If mailing the original paperwork, we strongly suggest keeping a copy, as occasional delays or issues with USPS can occur.
Prospective members who choose to mail their application may include a check, money order or cashier’s check with their paperwork. For those who submit their forms via email or fax, a payment link will be sent by the ATD Office once the documents are received.
The ATD Office will review your application and, if approved, send out your ATD New Member Packet to your current address. Once you have read the Handbook and received your red heart tag, you and your therapy dog are ready to share smiles and joy! To maintain your membership in good standing, you will need to make at least 1 in-person volunteer visit every 3 months and log it in your ATD Member Portal. The Portal login credentials will be included in the New Member Packet.
Watch a sample of our Handling Assessment and how to handle your dog when interacting with others. You’ll see a variety of dogs doing the various sections of the test. As you can see, dogs don’t have to be perfect, but they can’t be shy, they can’t jump on others, and they can’t pull on their leash.
A therapy dog must be at least 1-year old.
Any dog of any breed or mix of breeds can be a therapy dog.
A therapy dog doesn’t have to perform any tricks or know any special commands such as “fetch.” However, therapy dogs must listen to their handlers.
Therapy dogs need to have a calm and gentle disposition. They must be good around other dogs, calm when strangers pet them all over, not jump on others, walk on a leash without pulling, and not startled by things such as strange noises, smells, and medical equipment.
A therapy dog must be current on all vaccines required by the local laws, have a negative fecal test every 12 months, and be clean and well groomed for each visit.
No. ATD doesn’t restrict Member’s choices regarding what they feed to their canine team partners.
No. Therapy dogs do not have the legal access rights that service or assistance dogs have. NOTE: If a Member misrepresents that their therapy dog is a service or assistance dog, they’ve violated ATD’s Rules and Regulations and they’ve put their membership and the integrity of ATD at risk.
If you want to become a Member but have some questions or concerns, please contact us. We are happy to help!
If you are a minor and would like to participate with ATD, consider becoming a Junior Handler.
$20 paid to
Sterling Volunteers
All new Members begin by completing the required paperwork and passing a background check. ATD’s unique testing process then evaluates both your dog’s temperament and the bond you share. After passing the test, a Tester/Observer (T/O) will supervise 3-4 visits—2 at medical facilities—offering guidance as they observe you in action. If all goes well, the T/O will recommend you and your dog for certification.
As a volunteer organization, we care about our program and the quality of the individuals who help us. ATD feels it is important to assure we are bringing in Members who are trustworthy. A background check provides the facilities we visit with a sense of comfort that our volunteers have been properly screened. Background checks prior to testing will also help to keep our insurance premiums low and thus, keep your yearly fees low. The cost for the background check is $20.00, which also allows you to share the results with other organizations. The first share with one other organization is free.
Are you under 18? Junior Handlers do not need to complete a background check.
ATD will only accept background checks completed through Sterling Volunteers. To begin your background check, click on the button below.
Download, review and complete your paperwork. Then find a volunteer Tester/Observer (T/O) in your area to test you and your dog for free as soon as the T/O can accommodate you. The test includes a Handling Assessment which tests your dog’s basic good manners and your handling skills. You’ll need to bring the completed paperwork to the test.
Click the button below to download our membership package that includes the ATD Member Application.
After the Handling Assessment of the test, you and your dog must interact with residents or strangers on 3-4 supervised visits. Your T/O will then sign off on your paperwork to show that you are ready to become a Member of ATD.
Click the button below to visit our portal where you can see a list of Volunteer Testers/Observers closest to you.
After completing the ATD Certification Test, please send us the following documents:
Teams may submit their completed forms via email, fax, or standard mail. If submitting by email, we recommend retaining the original hard copies for your records. If mailing the original paperwork, we strongly suggest keeping a copy, as occasional delays or issues with USPS can occur.
Prospective members who choose to mail their application may include a check with their paperwork. For those who submit their forms via email or fax, a payment link will be sent by the ATD Office once the documents are received.
The ATD Office will review your application and, if approved, send out your ATD New Member Packet to your current address. Once you have read the Handbook and received your red heart tag, you and your therapy dog are ready to share smiles and joy! To stay a Member in good standing, you’ll need to make and log at least 1 visit every 3 months in your ATD Member Portal. The Portal login credentials will be included in the New Member Packet.
Watch a sample of our Handling Assessment and how to handle your dog when interacting with others. You’ll see a variety of dogs doing the various sections of the test. As you can see, dogs don’t have to be perfect, but they can’t be shy, they can’t jump on others, and they can’t pull on their leash.
A therapy dog must be at least 1-year old.
Any dog of any breed or mix of breeds can be a therapy dog.
A therapy dog doesn’t have to perform any tricks or know any special commands such as “fetch.” However, therapy dogs must listen to their handlers.
Therapy dogs need to have a calm and gentle disposition. They must be good around other dogs, calm when strangers pet them all over, not jump on others, walk on a leash without pulling, and not startled by things such as strange noises, smells, and medical equipment.
A therapy dog must be current on all vaccines required by the local laws, have a negative fecal test every 12 months, and be clean and well groomed for each visit.
No. ATD doesn’t restrict Member’s choices regarding what they feed to their canine team partners.
No. Therapy dogs do not have the legal access rights that service or assistance dogs have. NOTE: If a Member misrepresents that their therapy dog is a service or assistance dog, they’ve violated ATD’s Rules and Regulations and they’ve put their membership and the integrity of ATD at risk.
If you want to become a Member but have some questions or concerns, please contact us. We are happy to help!
If you are a minor and would like to participate with ATD, consider becoming a Junior Handler.
Already a Member? Consider applying to be a vonunteer Tester/Observer with ATD. See the qualifications and learn more.
