Volunteer Requirements

To join the Paws for Love program, volunteers must be at least 18 years old. If more than one adult wishes to volunteer on a team, each person needs to complete our new volunteer onboarding process and attend the pet evaluation. For the safety and focus of our visits, guests and children cannot accompany you on your Paws for Love visits.

Therapy Pet Candidates

We welcome a variety of domestic animals as therapy pet candidates, including dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and birds. (If you would like to be evaluated with a species other than a dog, please send an email to the evaluator, Paula.)

To be eligible, your pet must meet the following criteria:

– At least one year old

– In your care for at least six months

– Rabies vaccinated (for dogs, cats, and ferrets)

– In good health and well-groomed

– Wear a clean collar/harness (no prong or shock collars) and leash (no retractable leads)

– Be friendly, outgoing, confident, and well-mannered

It’s essential that your pet genuinely enjoys interacting with people. Animals that are shy, scared, reserved, nervous, or aggressive are not suitable for this role. Please note that service and working animals are not eligible for the Paws for Love program, as their primary responsibility is to their owners.

If your pet is showing signs of illness or stress, they should not participate in visits that day.

Site-Specific Requirements

When you volunteer with Paws for Love, you’ll complete our onboarding process. However, many of our visitation sites, such as hospitals, nursing homes, Hospice, and the Buffalo Niagara International Airport, have their own additional applications, screening criteria, and training. You’ll need to complete these extra steps to volunteer at those specific locations.

These additional requirements may include:

– An application

– Identification verification

– A background check

– Vaccine requirements (for both you and your pet)

– Testing requirements (like a PPD test)

We’re excited you’re considering joining us in bringing comfort to our community. A successful therapy animal is friendly, comfortable with handling, confident, and has excellent manners.

Who Makes a Great Paws for Love Team?

Please consider the following questions about your animal’s behavior and your abilities as a handler. These areas are key to a successful Paws for Love evaluation and future Paws for Love visits.

People Interactions

– Does your animal feel comfortable around all strangers, without showing fear or apprehension?

– Is your animal accepting of people of all sizes, ethnic backgrounds, and ages, and comfortable with people wearing hats, beards, hoodies, sunglasses, etc.?

– Does your animal seek out people they don’t know, willingly and calmly approaching strangers?

– Does your animal enjoy engaging with people, happily sticking around for petting?

Comfort With Handling

– Does your animal accept hugs from strangers without backing away, stiffening, or showing signs of distress?

– Does your animal accept being touched in a rough manner by strangers (e.g., tail pulled, feet picked up, ears tugged, petted on head)?

– Does your animal remain calm while being approached abruptly from both the front and the back?

Confident In Novel Environments and Car Rides

– Is your animal confident going to new places, without showing signs of stress?

– Does your animal acclimate readily, without needing a long time to warm up?

– Does your animal cope well with loud sounds, yelling, rolling carts, wheelchairs, etc.?

– Does your animal handle unpredictable events well, not scaring easily, and able to recover quickly?

– Your pet must be comfortable riding in the car. If your pet experiences motion sickness or distress during car rides, this could negatively impact their success during the evaluation and Paws for Love visits.

Manners (For Dogs)

– Does your dog meet people with all four paws on the floor (does not jump)?

– Is your dog able to perform basic skills such as sit, down, stay, and leave it?

– Does your dog walk on a loose leash, without pulling you?

– Does your dog act neutral when it sees and is in the same space as other dogs? Being neutral means your dog doesn’t excessively stare, whine, bark, or lunge at other dogs.

Handler Readiness

– Are you kind, caring, and considerate to your animal and others?

– You should be comfortable talking to all kinds of people, from strangers to those with different backgrounds or appearances.

– The program seeks individuals who are friendly and sociable, and who approach and engage with strangers calmly and confidently.

– You must be able to recognize your animal’s body language and know when they’re stressed. It’s your job to advocate for your animal and remove them from any uncomfortable or unsafe situations.

If this sounds like you and your pet, move on to the next steps!

You can read all about the Paws for Love evaluation process here. When you come in for your scheduled evaluation, please remember to bring a printed and completed copy of this form.

The SPCA’s Volunteer Services Department is ready to help you onboard and get your pet signed up! Send them an email here to get the ball rolling! (Have a different type of pet other than a dog? Please email our evaluator, Paula, for your next steps.)