Ratification

We ask potential volunteers to complete the PeTS 101 quiz so we can gauge their knowledge and interest in pet therapy. Read through our website and the ratification process to learn more about pet therapy and what will be required of you as a volunteer.

Take the PeTS 101 quiz.

Prospective volunteers that are eligible for ratification are required to join our society as a general volunteer to advance through the ratification process.  Annual membership fees are $30 per person (18+ only). Members have access to internal programming, social events and coverage under our insurance at PeTS events.

To be able to attend Step 3 – Prescreen Evaluation, please ensure your pets vaccinations are up-to-date as per the following:

• Dogs require the following up-to-date vaccinations/titres: Rabies, DA2PP and Bordetella.
• Cats require the following up-to-date vaccinations/titres: Rabies, FVRCP.

The prescreen day is made up of two parts – obedience (up to two hours in the morning) and temperament (10-15 minutes in the afternoon) for dog teams and only temperament (for cat teams).

PeTS evaluators will observe you and your pet during a series of obedience scenarios such as loose leash walking, sitting, staying, and exposure to equipment, people and other pets etc. After the evaluators discuss their observations, eligible dog teams will be invited to move on to the temperament scenarios in the afternoon (cat teams will have received their time slot for the afternoon) that includes exposure to sudden movements, accepting a treat from a stranger etc.

Dog Teams who pass both the obedience and temperament evaluations and Cat Teams who pass the temperament evaluations will be invited to move on to Step 4: Observe a visit.  After the prescreen, all teams will be emailed a report of the evaluators’ observations and suggestions.

If you are not eligible to move to the next step, you are encouraged to follow the evaluator’s suggestions and keep working on training your pet. You can retry the prescreen twice more within one year, free of charge.

Once you login and register for the pre-screen day, you will receive an email and be asked to:

• Fill out a Handler and Animal Profile for you and your pet.
• Provide a copy of your pet’s current vaccinations or titre testing results.
• Pay the pre-screen fee – $70 (seniors pay $50). – Please note:  The Prescreen fee is valid for 3 Obedience and Temperament attempts in a calendar year from when you do your first prescreen.

After you pass your prescreen, you will be sent a Congratulations email as well as receive a Report Card in a separate email. The Congratulations email will show you the next steps as well as have links to the pertinent documents that will be required to complete and send in.  In that email, you will be invited to take an open book Handler’s Quiz (using the Handler’s Manual as your guide). A link to the Handler’s Manual will be included in that email.  Passing grade is 80% in order to move to the next step.

Please keep this email, as this email will also indicate the next few steps in your journey to become ratified.

After obtaining your passing grade of 80% from your Handler’s Quiz, prospective volunteers will do an Observed Visit (observe a real one-hour pet therapy visit (without your pet) alongside a PeTS Team Lead). This is an opportunity for you to ask questions and experience pet therapy first-hand.

The Congratulation email that you received after your Prescreen Evaluation will have a link to access the Observed Visit Form as well as a Team Lead List for you to be able to reach out to a Team Lead to set up an appointment for your visit.

There is no cost; however, depending on the facility, you may need to pay for parking.

When Step 4 and 5 have been completed, prospective volunteers will be ready to register for the next available Pet Therapy Training Weekend. Your registration email will include a link to the documents required to have completed before you attend the Training Weekend. This link will include the following:

• Pet Therapy Training Weekend Registration Form
• Health Screening Form (to be filled out by your Vet no more than 45 days before your Training Weekend start date).

Volunteer registrants must have their pet seen by their veterinarian no more than 45 days before their scheduled Pet Therapy Training Weekend start date to ensure there animal is healthy and fit for pet therapy. This usually costs $100 or more, depending on your veterinarian.

PeTS will provide you with the Animal Health Screening form for your veterinarian to fill out. Titre testing results may be submitted in lieu of vaccination records.

Ensure that you have registered for the Pet Therapy Training Weekend, after completing Steps 3, 4, 5 & 6.

The Pet Therapy Training Weekend is a weekend-long event designed to equip prospective volunteers with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to provide safe and effective pet therapy visits.

On Saturday (10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the PeTS Centre, 5204-82 Avenue NW) we review the PeTS Handler’ Manual and role play various scenarios that you may encounter during pet therapy visits, so you learn how to manage yourself and your pet appropriately. You will also fill out our Ratification Package Order Form for a PeTS name tag, lanyard, pet bandana, and trading cards (to be received after ratification).

On Sunday morning, teams will be observed individually during a real 20-minute pet therapy visit at a partner facility.

There is no cost; however, depending on the facility, you may need to pay for parking.

After the Pet Therapy Training Weekend, prospective volunteers will be assigned six to nine practicums to be completed within three months. A PeTS Team Lead will observe you and your pet through each practicum and provide feedback during and at the end of each visit.

There is no cost; however, depending on the facility, you may need to pay for parking.

PeTS’ Board of Directors review each prospective volunteer’s file including the obedience and temperament evaluations, handler’s quiz, and practicum visits paperwork. A majority vote is required. If the majority does not vote to ratify the team, the Board may request earlier ratification steps to be repeated.

After the Board has voted to ratify you and your pet as a pet therapy team, and once you have picked up your Ratification Package and your online profile is updated to you being a Ratified Therapy Team, you will then have access to the full list of facility partners and events available for ratified therapy teams. You can choose where, when, and how often you provide pet therapy visits and attending any Stress Buster events that may interest you.

To stay ratified, you must complete at least one hour of pet therapy every six months, submit your pet’s annual health screening form, pay your annual membership fees, and be in good standing with the Society. Teams that are not able to complete any pet therapy visits within six months need to complete the prescreen to become ratified again.

Teams that are not able to perform any pet therapy visits within 12 months are considered retired and need to go through the entire PeTS ratification process again.