VCU Center for Human-Animal Interaction & VCU Medical Center Volunteer Office provide therapy dog training and certification

By Michael Ford
University News Services

WHAT:            The Virginia Commonwealth University Center for Human-Animal Interaction and VCU Medical Center's Volunteer Program are providing therapy training and certification for 23 volunteers and their dogs to increase the number of appropriately trained dog-handler teams at the medical center. 

The two-day evaluations follow a day of Delta Society Pet Partner training in June, when volunteers learned about appropriate procedures for pet visitation in healthcare facilities and additional requirements for therapy dogs to become Delta Pet Partners such as temperament and behavior.

VCU Medical Center currently has a number of certified therapy dogs visiting patients in many hospital units, including pediatrics, psychiatry, and oncology. Faculty affiliated with the VCU Center for Human-Animal Interaction has published several studies documenting the health benefits of animal-assisted therapy for patients. 

The training program was funded by a grant from VCU's MCV Hospitals Auxiliary and a donation from the Virginia Kennel Club. 

The Delta Society Pet Partners Program is an internationally recognized therapy dog certification program to prepare volunteer owners to provide pet visitation and animal-assisted therapy in healthcare facilities.  

WHERE:            The Pet Barn, 900 Southlake Blvd (off Midlothian Turnpike), Richmond

WHO:                      •         Pat Peltier, Director of Volunteer Services, VCUMC
•         Denice Ekey, Volunteer Coordinator for the Center for Human-Animal Interaction and                   Volunteer Pet Visitation Coordinator for VCUMC
•         Connie Knisely, certified Delta Society Pet Partner instructor and evaluator
•         Jane Holmgren, certified Delta Society Pet Partner evaluator

WHEN:            10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Saturday, July 26, 2003
                        9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Sunday, July 27, 2003