Dedicated to Linda Laun, Founder of Wonderful Animals Giving Support.
Linda has provided us with a deeper connection to our animal companions through the art of training. We are deeply grateful for her steadfast devotion to this group; to our community, and to our pets.
Thank you, Linda
Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge all of YOU, past, present and future volunteers and your pets that make WAGS what it is. Your hard work, dedication and commitment are greatly appreciated.
This manual was written, compiled and edited by:
The Manual Revision Committee, led by Marybeth Orton MA, ATR-BC, ATCS, ICST, LPAT-S, with Dottie Chapman, BS, MT-ASCP, Tami Harbolt, Ph.D., Linda Laun, MTABC, Martha Raymer, Patti Finley, Melanie Broughton, Jenny Pagni, and Micki Thomas and Christine Anderson.
We wish to thank all those volunteers willing to devote their time to this amazing work.
We would also like to thank Patricia McConnell, Ann Howie, Cindy Ludwig, Nancy Tanner and Sophia Yin for giving us permission to print their valuable information in working with pets.
To utilize the relationship between humans and animals to enhance health, independence and quality of life;
To extend the opportunity of Animal Assisted Therapy and Animal Assisted Activities to more people;
To reduce barriers that prevent involvement with animals in everyday life;
To expand awareness of the positive effect animals can have on humanity.
We believe these four mission objectives are most effectively fulfilled through a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusiveness as core values and practices. We strive to make pet therapy available to everyone in the community, regardless of their background. Our goals include increasing our cultural competency and addressing issues of accessibility to pet therapy for underserved or marginalized communities within the geographic areas we serve. We believe the human-animal bond is essential to the well-being of all people regardless of their age, gender, race, mental or physical limitations, religion, national origin or sexual orientation.
Disclaimer: While we have made every effort to include information that will help you become a WAGS Ambassador, inevitably there will be changes, additions and other revisions as we work to improve and maintain the high standards the community has come to expect from WAGS Pet Therapy of KY, Inc.
Also, throughout this manual, the people that we visit may be referred to as clients and patients. These terms are used interchangeably.
Welcome to the WAGS Ambassador Program! We are thrilled you have made the decision to participate in pet therapy and are ready to take the next steps.
This manual will explain your responsibilities and duties and will guide and assist you through the steps to ultimately achieve your goal of being a registered WAGS Ambassador Team with your pet.
We know that as a dedicated pet owner, you want the safest, most fulfilling, and most reliable experience performing pet therapy. We share your commitment to the safety of our teams and the people we visit.
Our goal is to establish and uphold the highest standards and expectations to ensure the safety of our pets and the people we visit so that WAGS can continue to provide pet therapy and the healing power of animals for many years to come. Most importantly, we wish to show the rewards and benefits of having a well-trained pet in areas that typically do not allow animals.
We appreciate your willingness to take all the necessary steps to become a fully registered WAGS Ambassador team. Pet therapy is a truly gratifying endeavor for a well prepared and happy ambassador team. We are looking forward to sharing this experience with you!
WAGS Pet Therapy of KY Inc. is a regional, non-profit, all volunteer pet therapy organization serving the Kentuckiana area. We come together once a month to share updates, stories and participate in continuing education. As we celebrate together, we promote our group in the community and we share knowledge with one another.
The members of WAGS are committed to representing our group as a respected therapy organization. WAGS trainers, evaluators and members may belong to other local or national organizations, however WAGS is independently registered, run and insured. We are not affiliated with any other national group or online registration agency. To be eligible for Ambassador team registration, you must be able to undergo a hands-on evaluation and Mentored Visit.
1.1 History of WAGS as told by Linda Laun
Sharon Gretsinger and Linda Laun founded WAGS in 1998. Both Sharon and Linda had been doing pet therapy for numerous years and realized that an organized and publicized group could better serve the community. Sharon had the first WAGS meetings in her home in the summer of 1998. They decided to organize a pet therapy group following the guidelines of Delta Society, now Pet Partners.
In the fall of 1998, Sharon, Linda, and another pet therapy advocate, Melissa Kampars, went to Cincinnati, OH to the Delta Society Annual Conference to become Pet Partner Evaluators. The first team evaluation was held at the 4-H Center in Hardinsburg, KY. Suddenly WAGS was in business with four registered teams! These teams fulfilled our commitments to our first facilities of Frazier Rehab, Norton’s Children’s Hospital (formerly known as Kosair Children’s Hospital), and Home of the Innocents. The first years we accepted any pet therapy registered team that was covered by liability insurance. In 2002, WAGS became a Delta Society affiliate group (now known as Pet Partners).
WAGS first meetings were held in members’ homes. In 1999 Trudy Gatenbee stepped forward and offered her home as a “regular” meeting place. It was here at the Gatenbee’s home that we had our first regularly scheduled monthly membership meetings, conducted training seminars to prepare new members for evaluation, wrote our by-laws, became incorporated, and had our first social events, picnics, and wiener roasts.
WAGS soon outgrew the space at Trudy’s home and made its first site move to Three Dog Bakery. More than our second home, Three Dog Bakery was also our first official fundraising sponsor when they offered to have us receive a portion of sales from their annual Pictures with Santa Claus and later with the Easter Bunny. It was during a meeting at the Three Dog Bakery that we finally got our name WAGS Pet Therapy of Kentucky, Inc., which was offered by Susan Sack and her family. We gratefully adopted WAGS Pet Therapy of Kentucky, Inc., named for our mission to provide Wonderful Animals Giving Support to our community.
The first board of WAGS:
Sharon Gretsinger, President
Linda Laun, Vice President
Trudy Gatenbee, Secretary
Charlie Brown, Treasurer
Susan, an attorney, guided us as we wrote our by-laws and articles of incorporation. Then with help from Charlie Brown and Linda Laun, she completed and filed the papers for our 501(c) 3 status making all donations to WAGS tax deductible. We give our heartfelt thanks to Charlie and Susan who graciously donated their time, expertise and all the filing fees, legal costs and website start-up cost.
In the summer of 2000, Linda Laun and Sharon Gretsinger wrote the WAGS mission statement and designed the first brochure. WAGS member Connie Gauer had the cost of printing donated by her husband Darvin Gauer’s employer, Publishers Printing, in Shepherdsville, KY.
Our first Volunteer Appreciation Banquet was also held that year, acknowledging the many hours donated by our volunteers. In the fall of 2001, Sharon Gretsinger arranged for a website design by Jill Schmidt showcasing our new logo designed by Kelly Powell.
By 2001, WAGS had outgrown Three Dog Bakery. Meetings were moved to Tom Sawyer Park. In February 2002, we moved to Buechel Presbyterian Church where WAGS held its first silent auction fundraiser, thanks to the hard work of Deb Sexton, Patti Grove and Sharon Edelen.
Continuing to grow, in 2004 WAGS moved to Anchorage Presbyterian Church. Thanks to the support of church employee and WAGS member, Tara Nicholas (Reck), the church agreed to help WAGS by generously donating their space for us at no charge.
In November 2009, big changes came to WAGS. The membership voted to return to its roots and separate from Delta Society. We became an independent animal therapy group, as we were when we started.
As of June 1, 2010, WAGS was no longer a Delta Society Affiliate. Membership continued to grow. In 2015, WAGS briefly met in a church in Fern Creek until we relocated in late 2015 to St. Matthews Episcopal Church.
WAGS has enjoyed a charmed and blessed existence since its inception. When there has been a need, someone has stepped forward. Our growth has been and continues to be remarkable. Our membership is dedicated to making a difference in the community. Our work has been made possible by this giving spirit, which encompasses not only pet therapy, but also other outreach programs that support animal groups to fulfill our mission of strengthening the human-animal bond.
Our strength is built on our common goal of giving to others, our ability to accept each other the way we are without prejudice, and the bond that working together brings.
1.2 History of Pet Therapy
Pet therapy is a method of applying care and compassion that science has a difficult time measuring. It has been noted that people in the company of animals exhibit less stress. Heart rates and blood pressure decrease, and people report feelings of comfort and belonging.
In one study, it was found that people with a pet recover from heart attacks more quickly than people who have no companion animals. In the 1960’s, psychologists such as Boris Levinson were ridiculed when they proposed the idea that pets could illicit positive effects in children. This is still challenged, as it is difficult to prove with quantitative measurement.
Regardless, observation, self-report and first-hand accounts undeniably show that calm, well-behaved animals provide people with unbiased companionship, comfort, joy, and exercise. These qualities have medically acknowledged positive impacts on our health and longevity.
Some of the most famous practitioners of good health have utilized animals in their therapies, including Sigmund Freud and Florence Nightingale.
Freud noted that when his beloved Chow Chows were in the room, his patients were more comfortable sharing their feelings. Nightingale kept pets near wounded soldiers in order to motivate and comfort them (Coren, S., 2002. p.127-141).
When Boris Levinson began bringing his dog with him during therapy sessions with children, he noticed that the children were more likely to open up when the dog was there; even those children who had previously been less likely to share their feelings. This inspired him to suggest that pets could facilitate therapy, especially with people who had a difficult time expressing themselves verbally.
However, when Levinson presented his ideas to his colleagues at a conference, he was laughed out of the conference. What so many of us see as “common sense” about the benefits of animals are often disregarded by the scientific community. How can research that relies on hard numbers and facts advocate for something that is so difficult to prove?
In the past, science was reluctant to acknowledge any emotions or relationships that could not be empirically measured, but today science is finally catching up! Most scientists agree that animals play important parts in our emotional lives and there is more research coming out to support this every day.
Oftentimes, a person can find themselves without an animal of their own when they need them the most. Dogs aren’t generally allowed in hospitals or nursing facilities. But during these times of stress, there is nothing like seeing a smiling face and wagging tail coming your way.
There is no greater feeling than getting to be the handler on the other end of the leash. Today, it’s not uncommon to see therapy dogs in hospital waiting rooms and hallways, retirement communities, funeral homes, a dentist’s office, even courtrooms, and therapy dogs are being invited into more and more places every day!
A program that has gained popularity in recent years brings the encouragement of a therapy animal to children who are learning to read. Our program, “Read with WAGS” sends Ambassador teams to schools and libraries, where children are encouraged to read their books out loud to a therapy pet.
This helps children who struggle to read. Therapy animals create an atmosphere where reading can be a calm, positive experience for a child who may otherwise find it overwhelming in the classroom.
1.3 What is Pet Therapy? Animal Assisted Activities & Animal Assisted Therapy
Pet therapy is usually broken into two categories, referred to as Animal Assisted Activities (AAA) and Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT).
AAA are focused on the social interaction between you, your pet, and the client or patient, which promotes a sense of well-being and enhances the quality of life of the patient or client. It is often more spontaneous and recreational without a specific treatment goal. AAT generally includes a licensed professional therapist who has written specific treatment goals utilizing a therapy animal to assist the client/patient in obtaining a treatment goal.
Some of the benefits of animal-facilitated therapy/activities for humans are:
Increased empathy
Outward focus
Nurturance
A rapport with another being (including the handler in most cases).
A feeling of acceptance
Mental stimulation
Physical contact
Decreased blood pressure and heart rate
Spiritual connection (Delta Society, 2004, pp. 15-18.)
Copyright 2023 WAGS Pet Therapy of Kentucky, Inc.
1.4 Is There a Difference
Between a Therapy Animal and a Service Animal?
YES! A service animal is an animal that provides a service or assistance for an individual with a disability. A service animal is specially trained to perform specific tasks for the benefit of one person
Copyright
A therapy animal is part of a human-animal team that interacts with and provides an opportunity for social interaction to enhance the quality of life of the patient/client. A therapy animal works for the benefit of many people.
1.4.1 “Service Dogs” by Cindy Ludwig
1.A service dog, even a psychiatric service dog, is NOT a dog whose function is to provide emotional support.
2.A service dog is trained to perform specific tasks which mitigate the disability of the dog’s human partner.
3.Service dogs are individually trained; no two are trained exactly the same to do exactly the same things.
4.Service dog training is extensive and lasts on average 2 years.
5.Pets are not always good service dog candidates.
6.Dogs selected for service dog work must be matched to the job in terms of size, temperament, etc.
7.Generally, only one service dog is needed per human partner. Under the ADA, individuals may have more than one service dog, but generally the way service dogs are trained is to perform all the tasks that an individual with a disability or disabilities needs.
8.Service dogs are NOT required to be registered, certified or wear vests, though wearing an identifying vest is advisable for identification purposes.
9.Service dogs do NOT have to be trained to do 3 tasks, but organizations that are members of ADI (Assistance Dogs International) have a 3-task requirement.
10.Emotional support is not a trained task.
11.An emotional support dog is not a service dog.
12.An emotional support dog is not trained to do anything specific, relevant to an individual’s disability.
13.An emotional support animal (ESA) provides emotional support.
14.An ESA provides emotional support to an individual with a mental disability where a clear nexus between the benefit of the dog and the individual’s mental condition can be demonstrated.
15.A person with an ESA does not have “public access rights” like a service dog’s partner.
16.You must have a disability to qualify for an ESA or a service dog.
17.Having an illness or condition does not mean you have a disability or are disabled.
18.Having an illness or medical condition does not mean you need a service dog or ESA.
19.An ESA is prescribed to treat a mental illness, not a physical illness.
20.If you rent, you can request a waiver of a no pet policy and pet fees if you have an emotional or mental disability and your doctor or mental health professional prescribes an ESA for treatment, but this is no guarantee the waiver will be granted. Some exceptions apply.
21.Service dogs are not pets and pet fees do not apply.
22.If you do not have a disability, you do not need or qualify for a service dog or an ESA.
23.Service dogs are not free; somebody has to pay for their extensive training and care.
24.Post-Traumatic Stress (PTSD) dogs may be either service dogs or emotional support animals, but they are only an adjunct to treatment.
25.Having stress or anxiety does not mean you have PTSD.
26.A “companion animal” is a pet.
27.A police dog is not an assistance, aka service dog, even though it is a specially trained working dog.
28.Service dogs should not be trained to break falls.
29.Service dogs cannot be trained to monitor a pulse.
30.Service dogs cannot be trained to tell you how long a seizure lasts.
31.Service dogs, with the exception of guide dogs, are not trained to make choices. Guide dogs are trained to be “intelligently disobedient” to keep their blind partners safe.
32.Service dogs cannot be reliably trained to alert their partner to oncoming seizures; they can be trained to respond to seizures by performing specific tasks, depending on what is needed.
33.A service dog or ESA is considered a “reasonable accommodation” under federal disability law in the United States.
34.There is no “best” breed for a service dog; the dog should be selected for the job.
35.Business owners may ask if a dog is required because of a disability and what the service dog is trained to do.
36.Business owners may ask a person with a disruptive service dog to leave.
37.Breed restrictions do not apply to service dogs.
38.It is a crime to misrepresent a dog as a service animal in Florida and California [and several other states].
39.Therapy dogs are not service dogs; therapy dogs are wellmannered dogs with a temperament suited to making visits to residents in long-term care, patients in hospital settings and other facilities for the purpose of providing company and diversion.
40.Therapy dog handlers have no “public access” rights and are only allowed to visit with permission of the facility they visit.
A WAGS registered therapy animal can visit any facility that has been screened and approved by the WAGS facility committee.
All decisions regarding scheduling and access are up to the facility; and not the therapy group or the team. Only the facility can determine where a team can visit. The team is allowed to access approved areas on the premises only during the predetermined time period scheduled for the visit.
In other words, if the team has been scheduled for a visit at a facility on Mondays between 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m., they only have legal access to that facility on Mondays between 12:45 p.m. and 2:15 p.m., and may not enter the same facility on Tuesdays or any other day or time without the prior approval from the facility.
1.6 What Makes a Good Therapy Animal?
Therapy animals should be of very sound and stable temperament. They should not easily startle or become anxious in new environments and situations. They must have good basic skills and manners. They must seek out and enjoy interactions with people. They must be able to work around distractions, such as noise, smells, food, equipment, and activity.
1.6.1 Skills and Temperament of a WAGS Animal
All Animals should:
Be in good health
Readily accept petting and touching all over, similar to a vet exam
Easily accept human interaction while sitting quietly at your side when asked
Maintain self control in the presence of distractions such as noises or scents
Dogs and Cats should:
Be house-trained in any environment
Dogs should:
Be under your control using voice or hand cues. The handler should not rely on the leash to control their dog
Have the following basic obedience skills: Sit Lie down 19
Be comfortable riding in a basket or other approved carrier
Be comfortable in a harness with a leash attached
1.7 Can Animals
Other than Dogs Be Registered as Therapy Animals?
Yes! We allow many species to participate as WAGS Pet Therapy Ambassadors. We currently allow dogs, cats, pocket pets (such as guinea pigs, rats, etc.), pigs, birds and other domesticated animals. Each species will have unique aspects to the evaluation. See Chapter Two for information on these other species.
“As many of you know I recently presented a seminar on animal assisted therapy in Naples Florida. One of the motivations for doing the seminar was the number of clients I had who wanted me to help them prepare their dog for therapy work. Sometimes it was like swimming downstream on a warm, cozy river. Their dog was a perfect fit and ended up doing wonderful work in the community.
Other times… well, it was reminiscent of trying to paddle up a cold, frothy waterfall. The fact is, therapy work can be hard work, and it takes a special kind of dog to be both good at it and to enjoy it. The directors of AAA and AAT (AAActivities and AATherapy) will tell you that one of their greatest challenges is working with people who want to volunteer but whose dogs just don’t qualify. Here’s a summary of the characteristics of a good therapy dog prospect, in hopes it will be helpful for those who are interested in doing this wonderful work:
Affiliative: This seems like a no-brainer, but the fact is that many dogs are presented for therapy work who really don’t like strangers all that much. They love their owners and good friends, but aren’t all that interested in other people. Good therapy dogs need to be the kind of dogs who ADORE people, all people, and want nothing more than to connect with them. It is, after all, the emotional connection that is often the therapeutic part of AAA and AAT.
It seems to me that dogs sort into 4 categories:
1)adore people, care little for other dogs,
2)adore dogs, care little for unfamiliar people,
3)adore members of both species and are thrilled to meet new ones and
4)adore neither dogs or people, except maybe their owner.
Needless to say, only categories 1 and 3 are good therapy prospects.
Physically Calm: Many of the dogs who think all people hung the moon regrettably don’t fit into this category. Leaping, licking, pawing and body slamming just don’t work in senior centers and hospitals. This is why so many dogs don’t qualify when they are young, but could be great prospects when they are older.
I wrote a chapter with Aubrey Fine for his great book The Handbook of Animal Assisted Therapy, and we had a long discussion about how many dogs would be GREAT for therapy work when they are six. Or eight. Or ten, but their owners get them evaluated at the age of two, the dogs are not “passed” and their owners never try again.
Psychologically Sound and Non-reactive: It doesn’t matter how much training or conditioning you do, therapy dogs need a certain level of rock solid soundness to be good prospects.
Of course, the context does matter: some dogs are great in senior centers but are uncomfortable around children and would be disasters in a children’s hospital. It’s important to remember that AAA and AAT include a vast range of experiences, so every dog must be evaluated based on what they are going to be doing. But it’s still essential to keep in mind that although your job is in part to protect your dog, once you are inside a facility you will have limited control over what happens. And what can happen (someone grabbing your dog, weird noisy medical equipment coming on, a medical crisis that results in tremendous chaos) is sometimes enough to terrify a sensitive dog. Included in this category, although albeit somewhat different conceptually, is the state of being “emotionally mature” or able to handle frustration and deal with the world with a calm, measured demeanor. Again, just as in people, sometimes this takes several years to master.
Ridiculously clean and healthy: Unless you work in health care facilities it is easy to forget how differently sanitation needs to be handled in facilities and hospitals than it does in your own home. Pet Pals here in Madison, which organizes visits to the Children’s Hospital through the UW Vet School, requires that all dogs in the program go through extensive veterinary evaluations twice a year. This includes an entire day of testing for a vast range of diseases, from salmonella to MRSA.
In this case the dogs are visiting children who are often immune compromised, and so their requirements are more stringent than some, but any facility, from a senior center to a hospital, is a very, very different place than your home. Germs love the kind of places that therapy dogs go to visit, and they can move around like wild-fire within very vulnerable populations.
Aware of their job? This is gravy, pure gravy, but the fact is that some dogs do more than happily sit with strangers or participate in structured therapy treatment plans, as beneficial as that can be to some people. These dogs seem to sense why they are there, and seek out people who are especially needy, and make an emotional connection with them that changes their life. These connections happen, and hearing about them is enough to make you all gooey-eyed. Special stuff indeed.”
Reproduced with permission from Dr. Patricia McConnell, www.patriciamcconnell.com McConnell, P., PhD, CCAB, “Therapy dogs-Born or Made?” The Other End of the Leash, 19 January 2012, http:// www.patricialmcconnell.com/theotherendoftheleash/therapy-dogs-born-or-made, Accessed January 7, 2018.
No breeds and few species are excluded from participating. Therapy animals are individuals. However, there are some animals that are not eligible to become WAGS Ambassadors.
Wolf/dog hybrids may not evaluate to be WAGS therapy animals
Animals trained in bite work or who might have a history of dog fighting or being used as a bait dog, are prohibited from applying for therapy registration due to liability concerns.
We do not register reptiles or exotic animals for therapy work
1.10 Spay / Neuter Status of Animals
Dogs and cats are not required to be altered to participate in the WAGS Ambassador Program. Pets in estrus (heat) routinely do not participate in an evaluation or visitations because of the added stress that this produces and the safety of the pet. Animals that are intact will not be allowed to visit during estrus, pregnancy or while lactating and/ or nursing.
Copyright 2023 WAGS Pet Therapy of Kentucky, Inc.
While it is not necessarily required, some unaltered animals may develop spraying or marking behaviors, offensive odors and breeding rituals that make it imperative that they be altered in order to participate in pet therapy.
Each species has different considerations. For example, experts suggest that spaying guinea pigs is medically dangerous and unnecessary as long as they are housed with another female. Whether or not to alter your pet should be weighed carefully and is a decision that is best made between you and your veterinarian.
Other Medical Requirements and Considerations
Pets must be up to date on routine heart-worm, flea control and parasite medication. Pets on routine medication for benign medical issues, such as diabetes or thyroid medication, etc., may participate in evaluation and visitation.
Pets that are on medication for an active medical situation, such as antibiotics for an infection, may not be evaluated or participate in visitation until that series of medication is complete and the vet has cleared the pet for visitation.
Good Citizen Test. Does that Make My Dog a Therapy Dog?
The AKC (trademark) CGC (Canine Good Citizen) test is a positive step in training and an accomplishment to be proud of but, it does NOT mean that your dog is a therapy dog. The CGC test looks at some but not all of the skills necessary to meet the challenges that a therapy dog will experience in their work.
The CGC focuses mainly on obedience and basic temperament for a good household pet. A therapy animal is held to a much higher standard than a regular pet because they have a very special job to do and there is little room for error on the part of the animal or the handler. The skills needed for a therapy animal far surpass that of a “good” pet. Therapy animals need to calmly seek out attention, offer reliably gentle interactions, and truly enjoy the work; not just tolerate it.
1.12 Working with WAGS Without a Therapy Animal
There are many opportunities in WAGS for service that do not require you to have a therapy animal. You can work as a Trained Aide (TA), which entails that you attend WAGS 101 and successfully pass the online test.
Once you have completed WAGS 101 you can become a Trained Aide. A Trained Aide accompanies registered teams on visits and assists with hand sanitizer, carrying the WAGS bag, and/or placing towels/sheets on a bed. On some visits, clients request to have the pet in their bed. To provide infection control it is a good practice to place a towel, sheet, or pillow case on the bed for the pet to lie on. Remember do not re-use the towel. Each patient needs a new one.
WAGS always needs people who can help us maintain this incredible 25+ year-old organization. Please consider running for office, serving on our board or joining one of our committees. You must be a member for at least one year to run for a Board position.
You can also consider serving as an Evaluator or Skilled Assistant or one of the many working committees within WAGS. There are so many great ways to get involved. However you choose to help, WAGS appreciates your contribution!
1.13 Can I Be An Ambassador Team with an Animal I Don’t Own?
No Animal? No Problem!
We welcome you to evaluate and visit with an animal you don’t own with permission from the owner. We all love our animals but we also know that not all of them are suited to become therapy animals. If you have a friend or neighbor with a suitable pet that you’ve known well for at least six months; in addition to meeting all other requirements, you will need to get written permission from the pet owner, expressing their support of you evaluating and visiting with their pet as a WAGS Ambassador Team.
What steps do I need to take in order to qualify to be evaluated for the WAGS Ambassador program?
Your journey to becoming a WAGS Ambassador is as simple as following these pieces of the puzzle. You’ve already become a member of WAGS and have attended Orientation. This is the first piece of the puzzle. There are a couple other things to know about working with and without an animal, then we will move on to the next puzzle piece, Attending 101 Class. Find out more on the website. Log into Members Home Page. At the bottom you will see the 9 Steps to become & maintain a therapy team.
The WAGS program provides training and screening of animal/handler teams for visiting in hospitals, senior care facilities, rehab centers, schools, etc. WAGS provides access to many facilities in our community.
1.16 Benefits Our Members
Receive:
Access to Evaluators and Instructors as local resources and for the evaluation
A list of screened facilities to visit
Opportunity to network with other WAGS teams
Satisfaction of knowing you are helping people in your community
Liability insurance
ID badge for handler & collar tag for animal
Monthly meetings where you can socialize with other WAGS teams
Regular Continuing Education offerings
Exclusive offers on WAGS accessories
Volunteer Recognition Awards
Holiday party and other community events
Tax deductions
WAGS Welcome Waggers Program
The Welcome Waggers Program was created to help guide new members through the process of becoming an Ambassador team. Each month this mentoring program has WAGS members sitting at the Welcome Waggin’ table with new folks to help guide/answer questions. The Welcome Waggers greet the new guests at the monthly meeting.
Cost of joining fee and membership dues may be found on the website under the tab “Join Us.”
1.17.1 Linda Laun Scholarship Fund
WAGS recognizes that our members are volunteering their time and effort to enrich the lives of others. We do not want a potential or current volunteer to be unable to participate because of a temporary setback or any other financial hardship. To that end, we have established a scholarship fund for those members who are unable to pay for WAGS related expenses. Should a member wish to apply for these funds, he or she should contact the President directly to discuss the situation.
1.17.2 WAGS Ambassador Registration Fees (Good for 2-year Registration)
Please see the website (Home page, under “Join US,” for specific costs for:
Team (person and animal)
Senior (60+) or person with special needs
Animal with Additional Handler(s): Animal has passed evaluation and another handler wishes to be evaluated with that animal
Person with Additional Animal(s): Handler has passed evaluation with one animal and wishes to evaluate with another animal
Please note that the fees are for insurance coverage, NOT the evaluation itself.
Members will also incur additional fees for veterinarian exam, grooming, purchasing approved equipment, optional WAGS wear, bags, etc.
1.18.1 General Policies of Operation; General Membership Information including Membership Duties and Privileges
Please refer to the website for an up-to-date list of responsibilities and continuing education offerings in the Members Only Section under Step 2: 101 Class; ALL forms related to 101.” There may be required special trainings for all members at times, which may be found on the members only page as well as communicated at Membership Meetings.
1.18.2 Membership Meetings: Handler’s Duties/Responsibilities: Have animal clean up materials available
Pick up and clean up any spills or messes they or their animal makes.Dispose of animal waste in a proper container.
Identify their dog with a pink ribbon provided at the sign-in table if their dog needs extra space.
Give dogs with a pink ribbon extra space.
Be sure that their animal is quiet and well mannered.
Give their animal ample breaks, water, and attention.
Keep their pet in an approved crate, cage, stroller or on a 4’ cloth or leather leash (NO flexi-leads).
Metal collars, i.e. choke chains, prongs, etc., are not allowed.
Members may NOT sit on the floor with their animal, especially their dogs at membership meetings. This is a safety issue for all.
WAGS members are welcome to bring their animals to membership meetings for socialization and continuing education prior to Ambassador Evaluation.
1.18.3 Snow/Cancellation Policy:
Please refer to the WAGS website. Updates regarding weather will be posted on the website and WAGS Facebook page.
1.18.4
Hospitality:
Refreshments shall be made available to members and guests at no charge at all regular membership meetings.
1.18.5
Flea Policy:
All WAGS dogs and cats must be on a year-round flea protection program according to a veterinarian’s recommendations, such as Frontline Plus, Advantage, K-9 Advantix, etc.
Attendance at Orientation is required before a person may join WAGS. New member orientation will be conducted following the regular membership meeting and continuing education session or when necessary, on your home device via a virtual platform. No animals may attend Orientation. It is conducted by a trained WAGS member. In the orientation, interested persons will be informed of the operation of WAGS, our therapy work, and how to become a registered Ambassador team.
1.18.7 Board Meetings:
Board meetings will be scheduled by the President or can be called by the majority of seated members. An agenda will be provided prior to meeting. The dates for board meetings will be posted to the website on the Calendar, however if you wish to attend, you must contact the president to receive the meeting link.
Board meetings are open to the membership. Anyone wishing to speak at the board meeting, other than members of the board, shall submit a written request to the President in a timely fashion.
1.18.8 Officers and Board Members:
Board Members: The board of directors shall consist of 5 elected officers:
Two Members-at-large who are appointed by the elected officers and serve 2 year terms
Any such other person(s) that the Executive Committee may appoint
The President shall serve as the Chairperson of the Board.
Note: Per the bylaws, the Board cannot be larger than 15 people and no less than five.
1.18.9 Officer/Board Member Vacancies and Filling Vacancies
Should the President resign or be otherwise removed from office during his/her elected term, the President-elect shall fill that vacancy until the end of that term and then serve the term for which s/he was elected. Should any other officer or board member resign or otherwise be removed from office, a member appointed by a 2/3 vote of the remaining board of directors shall serve until the term is completed.
1.18.10 Nominating Committee:
Committee shall be seated by the September meeting and will solicit members to run for each vacant office. Following the responsibilities set out in the nominating committee duties, the committee will have a slate ready to present at the November meeting. Any nominee must be a member for at least one year before being eligible to run.
WAGS members must be in good standing (attended Orientation, be current on dues, completed WAGS New Team Registration Packet, which may be found in the Members Only section of the website; read and agreed to the WAGS Mission Statement) and have met the following criteria to be eligible to have their animal evaluated:
1.Read the training course manual, Working with WAGS.
2.Attended a WAGS 101 Training session.
3.Sign up to help with an Ambassador Evaluation. This is a requirement (See Chapter 3).
4.Dogs and cats must be at least 18 months old and have lived with you for at least 6 months.
5.All animals must be owned/lived with you for 6 months; unless you will be evaluating with another individual’s pet. Birds must be owned/lived with you for 1 year.
6.Submit completed WAGS Ambassador Evaluation Registration Application packet to the WAGS Ambassador Pet Evaluation Scheduler no more than 60 days or less than 14 days prior to the evaluation date, to be scheduled for an appointment.
This packet must include:
a). A current rabies certificate with manufacturer’s lot number and expiration date.
b). A flotation fecal exam done within the last 6 months.
WAGS recommends that members audit (without animal) at least one facility before being evaluated. Only authorized volunteers, evaluators, the neutral dog and the individual being evaluated shall be in the room during evaluation. 35
You will find a link to download the registration packet on the website in the Members Only section under Step 4, “New Team Registration Packet” and “Health Screening Form” that your vet will fill out.
We want you to be successful!!
1.19.2 Guidelines for Children
A child must be at least 12 years old to be a WAGS Ambassador or to assist with evaluations. S/he will need to have a parent/guardian present if assisting with evaluations and will need to have a signed consent form.
If a child is being evaluated as a WAGS Ambassador, the parent/ guardian must have completed WAGS 101 and received a passing score on the online test (passing score is 80%). That parent/ guardian will be considered a “Trained Aide” and must accompany the child on any visits. A person is not considered an adult until age 18.
Consent form can be found in the Members Only section of the website under Step 2: “ALL forms related to 101.”
Anyone who has successfully completed WAGS 101 is eligible to be a “Trained Aide” and can accompany Ambassador teams on their visits.
WAGS members are expected to wear “business casual” when on a visit. Skirts and shorts should be at or below the knees. WAGS wear is encouraged, but not required. Shoes need to have closed toes. Dangling jewelry is not appropriate for safety reasons.
We ask that you avoid dangling jewelry; heavy colognes/ perfumes; and body art that might be suggestive or offensive. Please dress according to the culture of the facility.
Pet Attire: Costumes and Clothing
Animals may wear clothing or costumes so long as it is not restrictive to the animal and does not pose a danger for scratching/entangling a client, impede the ability to pet the animal, or present a safety issue for the client.
This includes scarves, vests, or ties that identify them as a therapy pet. They may also wear T-shirts, coats, dresses, dressy collars, collar covers, bandanas, ribbons in the hair, barrettes, nail polish, or bibs. Seasonal costumes such as for Christmas and Halloween are also allowed.
Please note there may be times when the use of costumes may be limited or suspended depending upon circumstances. See the website for the most up to date information.
• Handlers are to visit with facility team without a dog (audit) before committing to that team to be sure that the facility is appropriate for his/ her team’s skill level, size and temperament and to become familiar with the layout of the facility.
• Only WAGS members shall participate in visitation. Guests should wait in a common area for the visit to end or may accompany the WAGS member only with prior approval of the facility.
• The time slot for each visit is determined by the Facilities/Team Leader Chairperson. Visitation begins the moment you and your pet arrive on the property of the facility (approximately 15 min. prior and ends 15 min. after the time allotted for the visit).
Visits should not exceed two hours.
• WAGS members must wear their WAGS ID badge on all visits. WAGS members are expected to wear “business casual” attire. Dress must also adhere to the facility’s dress code policy. Exceptions may be required on certain visits. (Example – Jeans may be appropriate for an event that requires getting on the floor or being outside).
• Pets should be clean, groomed, and wear proper collars (buckle, snap or quick-release closures; limited-slip collars [Martingales] if they do not include metal links).Harnesses, halters and head collars (such as Gentle Leader, Snoot Loop and Halti) should be worn based on the animal’s skill level as determined by the WAGS evaluation. Small animals such as cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, etc., should be in proper containers/cages or may be carried on a towel or waterproof pad. All animals that leave their cage must be in a harness/collar and on lead at all times.
Leashes should be 4’and all leather or all fabric. 6’ leads may be used in rare circumstances with prior approval for activities that require more freedom.
• Dogs on a leash should be walking at your side in a well-controlled manner (no pulling or lunging).
• There may be a brief “meet & greet” between the pets prior to the visit. A meet & greet is described as a quick look (5 seconds or less) from a distance of approximately 4 feet or more. Sniffing should be discouraged. Then the pet should return to the handler with a happy call back.
• There should be no play sessions between pets prior to or during visits. Interaction between the pets should be discouraged during visits. The teams are there to interact with the people at the facility.
• Pets are never to be off lead on the property of the facility or during visitation. A facility may, in rare circumstances, approve an animal to be off-lead. A written permission form for off lead work is required. This may be found on the website in the Members Only Section under Step 6, “Visiting Team Connection.”
• All visiting teams will participate in continuing education/training twice a year, one of which must include hands-on exercises with the pet. This may include, but is not limited to WAGS continuing education sessions.
• WAGS members must carry and use clean up materials. It is expected of all members to clean up any and all messes that their pet makes. This is not limited to feces and urine (i.e. sloppy drinking, treat crumbs, drool, hair clumps, etc.).
• If a WAGS team is unable to meet their commitment for visitation, it is their responsibility to call any team substitutes to try to find a replacement and to notify the team leader. Failure to do so may result in removal from the team. If withdrawing from a visiting team, the team leader and Facilities/Team Leader Chairperson should be advised.
• WAGS visiting team members must document the number of visitation hours they have completed. This is required by WAGS for registration renewal. WAGS also tracks the number of visitation hours annually. (Hours may be submitted via the “Timesheet” link in the Members Only Section of the website under Step 7 as well as under “Personal Info: Submit my Time”).
• Each team member needs to carry a WAGS Incident Report Form and documentation of pet’s current health record.
• Dogs trained in bite work such as, but not limited to Schutzhund may not be registered as therapy dogs.
• A mentored visit may begin upon successful completion of the WAGS Ambassador Evaluation. Regular visitation may commence upon successful completion of a mentored visit.
• WAGS visiting privileges are revoked:
A. At the expiration date listed on the ID badge.
B. If member is in arrears visitation privileges will be reinstated when registration is renewed and/or upon payment of fees due.
C. May be revoked in the event of a violation of membership duties and privileges or gross misconduct.
• ‘Express Renewal’ is an observed visit in lieu of WAGS Ambassador Evaluation. To be eligible for Express Renewal, the member is required to have completed 10 visits within the fiscal year, and must meet continuing education/training requirements as listed in #10.
• WAGS liability insurance covers WAGS Ambassador teams visiting in approved facilities and Special Events.
• WAGS Pet Therapy of Kentucky, Inc. will carry general liability insurance on registered teams performing visits and any other WAGS activities as a volunteer – insurance is invalid if you are being compensated monetarily.
While WAGS does have liability insurance for all WAGS members in good standing and their animals, we recommend you check with your Homeowners/Renter’s Insurance to be sure you and your animal are also covered under your policy.
1.19.6 Incident Reports: Filing an Incident Report Involving WAGS Visitation
REMAIN CALM (First and Foremost)!
1.Secure your animal immediately so you can manage the situation. Do NOT tie your animal to furniture or equipment, which can shift easily.
2. Get help for the injured person. Volunteers should NEVER give medical aid to an injured client. Facility staff, and not volunteers, should provide medical treatment to clients, even if the treatment is as simple as applying a Band-Aid.
3.End the visit.
4.Before leaving, report the incident in writing to your facility contact person so the injury can be documented in the client’s medical file. Most facilities have accident or unusual incident report forms. You will need to fill out all the required paperwork.
5.Before you leave the facility, complete the WAGS Incident Report Form. (Complete directions for filling out the Incident Report Form and the Report form can be found in the Members Only section on the website under Step 6, “Visiting Team Connection.”
The following should be reported:
Injury to a person (client or handler) or an animal.
High potential that an injury could have occurred either to a person or an animal even though no one was hurt at the time.
Violation of WAGS Ambassador policies and procedures.
Unprofessional conduct as described in WAGS 101 (may also be found in description of NA handler scoring).
1.20 Financial Management
Audits and/or review by WAGS designated CPA shall be done every 3 years and/or whenever a new treasurer is elected.
Members will be reimbursed for approved out-of- pocket expenses when a completed expense reimbursement voucher and appropriate receipt(s) are presented to the Treasurer.
Non-budgeted expenses or budgeted expenses that exceed the budget by $500 must have prior authorization from the Board of Directors.
Replenishment orders for WAGS Wear
WAGS will cover expenses for refreshments at Board meetings.
Ongoing budgeted expenses may be paid by the Treasurer without prior authorization. The following is a list of such expenses, including, but not limited to:
Website hosting
Ongoing IT expenses
Storage facility fees
1.21 Memorials
1.21.1 Pet:
When WAGS is notified that an animal of a WAGS member passes away, the Social Secretary will send a sympathy card. In addition, any registered or retired therapy animal of a WAGS member will be remembered with a donation of $25 to their charity of choice.
When WAGS is notified that a WAGS member or member of their immediate family (spouse/significant other, parent or child) has passed away, the Social Secretary will send a sympathy card. In addition, if a WAGS member has passed away a $25 donation will be made to a charity in their honor.
We know you are eager to get registered as an Ambassador team with your animal and start visiting. It’s so exciting and we want to get right to it as quickly as possible! We strongly encourage you to realize that it takes time, and you need to trust the process. Throughout this manual we have included “WAGS Wisdom” tips that will help you be successful in this process.
2.0 The Misunderstanding of Time by Nancy Tanner
“When I am asked what is the biggest problem I see in dog training today, it is the same problem I saw fourteen years ago, and thirty years ago, it is the misunderstanding of time.
It takes time to learn how to be a teacher to another species.
It takes time to learn how to learn from another species.
It takes time to build understanding.
It takes time to learn how to observe and how to apply what you observe.
It takes time to build a relationship with trust.
It takes time to get to know one another.
It takes time to teach.
It takes an enormous amount of time to build skill on both ends of the leash.
It takes time to learn about the things in training you don’t even know that you don’t know yet.
It takes time to learn about your own short-comings.
It takes time to forgive your own short-comings and learn how to move on with your dog.
It takes a life-time to practice compassion.
It takes time, all of it.
You cannot rush a relationship.
You cannot rush the teaching or learning process, on either end of the leash.
You cannot rush maturity or the lack there of.
You cannot rush your skills, or your dog’s understanding of your skills.
My advice to new dog owners, seasoned dog owners, and want to be dog owners – learn how to settle in, learn that nothing will happen overnight. Learn that if you try to take short cuts and try to make it all happen to fit your schedule, or your desires, or your needs, it will come back to bite you in the ass, figuratively or literally.”
Posted by Nancy Tanner, April 11, 2016. https://nancytanner.com/2016/04/11/themisunderstanding-of-time/
D.Read and Agree to follow the WAGS mission statement.
2.Join WAGS and obtain the Working with WAGS manual, and read it before attending 101.
3.Attend WAGS 101. To sign up, refer to the website. The class will be about 1-1.5 hours long; either in person or a virtual platform. You will need to complete and pass the online pre-test.
The link for the online pre-test is included in the study guide which will be emailed to you. You must pass the online test before you can attend WAGS 101. There are NO EXCEPTIONS! However, you may retake the pre-test as many times as needed.
At the end of the 101 class there will be a discussion with multiple-choice questions.
There are videos of actual evaluations on the WAGS website. A link to the videos is included in the study guide.
4.Participate as a volunteer with the evaluations. (This is a WAGS requirement and must be completed prior to evaluating you and your animal.)
5.Audit (observe) a WAGS team in a facility at least one time. An audit is not a requirement for attending 101, it is a recommendation. However, prior to an actual visit, once you have passed your evaluation, you must audit the facility you want to visit. An audit is done without your pet. An audit will help you see how an established team works, and help you determine if this facility will be a good fit for you and your pet.
6.Submit complete WAGS evaluation packet to the WAGS Evaluation Scheduler whose email and postal address may be accessed via the Members Only section of WAGS website under “Step 4.”
7.Contact the Scheduler to be sure your packet was received and it is complete. The packet MUST be received at least 10 days, but not earlier than 30 days, prior to the evaluation to obtain an appointment. This is done on a first come, first served basis.
2.2
Important Information
Before your WAGS Ambassador Evaluation please read the following to understand the criteria that WAGS has set for the conduction of this evaluation.
Nationwide, there is only a 45% pass rate for first time participants.
If you and/or your pet are determined to be Not Ready (NR), you are encouraged to retest when you feel you and/or your pet are ready and may continue to retest until you get a passing score. You may not retest on the same day.
This evaluation is not designed to determine if you have an obedient or well-behaved pet. It is designed to determine if you and your pet can work together as a team; have the temperament and skills needed to work as a therapy team; and as a therapy team will be predictable, reliable and able to instill confidence in your abilities to those whom you are visiting.
Therapy work should be an activity both you and your pet enjoy. If your pet doesn’t like it, don’t force them.
WAGS is not looking for perfect pets but is looking for pets and handlers that know and trust each other and work well together.
The evaluation should be carried out as a role-play situation. The volunteers and evaluators who take part in the evaluation should be treated as though they were patients and/or staff in a facility that you are visiting. You will be expected to role-play, even though it might not feel natural. If there is no role-play by you, then the team cannot pass.
Pets or handlers who exhibit behavior which would not be appropriate on a visitation while on the evaluation site will be excused from being evaluated. If they have already been evaluated and passed, their score will be changed to reflect this and will be marked as either not ready (NR) or not appropriate (NA) as the behavior would dictate. (More info about NR and NA under Scoring the Evaluation).
You will NOT be evaluated if:
Your application is not complete (Except for photo).
You do not have your pet’s brush. (Check website for status on use of brush per infection control guidelines.)
If your dress is not within the WAGS dress code, including footwear.
If your pet is not clean and groomed or nails are too long.
If your pet is not wearing WAGS approved equipment.
If at any time during the evaluation you do not fully understand what is expected of you and/or your pet during an exercise, ask for the exercise to be explained in more detail.
During evaluation exercises, cues for behaviors may be repeated if failure to perform was due to handler error. Excessive cues would be cause for a not ready (NR) score.
During the evaluation do not allow anything to be done to you or your pet that is uncomfortable for you/ pet. However, you will need to role-play, even though it may not feel natural.
You may ask that the evaluation be stopped at any time during the evaluation.
An evaluator may stop the evaluation if it is determined that to continue could cause harm to either the handler or the pet.
2.3 Approved Equipment
It is important that ALL pets wear WAGS approved equipment for all WAGS activities/functions. This includes but is not limited to Meetings, Special Events, Pet Evaluations and Visitation. The factors considered for equipment approval are safety for clients and humane treatment of the animals. No equipment which was designed to cause discomfort, pain or restriction of breathing may ever be used.
2.3.1 Collars Approved - Leather or cloth collars with buckles or quick release snaps, martingale type collars also called Greyhound collars or limited slip collars. Generally, any collar made of cloth or leather except for closures and rings for leash/tag attachment. Head collars including, but not limited to, Gentle Leaders, Snoot loops, and Haltis.
Not Approved – Metal collars including, but not limited to, choke chains also called slip training collars and pinch or prong collars, and all electronic collars, which includes collars that deliver electric stimulation, or a spritz of citronella or water. These types of collars won’t work on visits because they could adversely impact the client/patient and they could get sprayed.
Vibration collars used on deaf dogs are not included in the electronic collar exclusion and may be used on deaf dogs during WAGS activities and functions.
2.3.2 Harnesses Approved – Any body-harness made of cloth or leather with only metal closures or rings for attaching leashes. This includes, but is not limited to, no-pull harnesses such as the Easy Walk Harness, Sensation Harness and Top Notch Harness. Any dog tested in a no-pull harness will be required to wear that piece of equipment for visitation.
Not Approved - Any harness that restricts breathing or ease of movement of dog or has metal parts except for closures and rings for leash attachment.
2.3.3 Leashes —
4 foot leash made of cloth or leather, or any leash that is 6 or 8 feet long but is altered to be a 4 foot leash (has a knot tied in it or rings that change the length of the leash to 4 feet).
Not Approved – Any leash that is longer than 4 feet or is made of any material other than cloth or leather. Retractable leashes are expressly forbidden as are slip-leads.
2.3.4 Costumes/Clothing: Approved-
Scarves, vests or ties that identify pets as a therapy pet are allowed providing they don’t cover the petting surface of the animal. Sweaters or coats worn by the pet for comfort during cold weather are allowed for outdoor visits or to wear to and from visits during cold months. Pets that need a sweater for warmth as in the case of pets that have little or no fur are allowed. Seasonal costumes such as for Halloween or Christmas are allowed as long as it is not restrictive for the pet and does not pose a danger for scratching or entangling clients when they are interacting with the animal.
Not approved – Any costume or other apparel such as jewelry that poses a health, infection control, or safety risk either to the pet, its handler, staff, or client.
2.3.5 Brushes: Approved- Soft “baby” brushes, hand gloves, those with the little rubber nubs, etc.
Not approved- Slicker brushes, rakes, “furminators,” etc., or any thing that has sharp metal teeth. We do not allow any metal brush parts that could harm (poke, scratch, puncture, etc.), the people you are visiting as well as your pet.
Always advocate for your pet. Instruct people on how your pet likes to be touched and gently remove your pet if a client is too rough or frightening to your pet. If a person is unable to reach your pet, you can assist them only with permission.
You are also not supposed to touch a client or move their equipment, without express permission from the client and/ or care provider. In the event that there is an altercation or misunderstanding on a visit the handler should be polite at all times and remove themselves from the visit if necessary. Later, we will discuss instances when an incident report is required.
2.4.1 Proactive Skills--Advocating for Your Animal
The safety and well-being of your animal should always be of the highest priority! Do not let anyone do anything to your pet if you are unsure how your animal will react to it. Do not let anyone do anything to your pet that could cause harm or stress.
Animals express stress in a variety of forms. Stress signals are your animal’s way of telling you that they are uncomfortable and would like to get out of an environment or situation. They are commonly noted by evaluators during evaluations, and range from simple panting to more serious warnings.
For example, panting, whining, licking, looking away, sniffing, lowering head are ways for dogs to calm themselves but are indicators of stress. More extreme examples are pupil dilation, tail tucking, vocalizing, elimination, shedding, sweating through their paw pads, slow response to cues, lack of desire to interact, and backing away.
If your pet exhibits these signals, Evaluators have the right to stop your evaluation and suggest an alternative for you and your pet. If your pet exhibits these signals on a visit, you need to first examine the situation for stressors, and if they reoccur, reconsider therapy work or retire your pet. You can sometimes reassure a pet with a brief time out, drink of water, distance between pet and the stressor, or by terminating the visit.
It is important that you are always aware of your environment. As an advocate for your pet, you should also observe his/her responses to an environment. If a pet becomes fatigued during a visit, there is no reason why your visit has to continue. Terminate the visit and preserve the comfort of your companion.
Make sure the client population is one with which you and your pet are comfortable. Is it too hot or too cold? How much driving or walking is involved? What is the noise level? Is the floor slick or troublesome? Are there stairs or elevators involved? Are there too many distractions? Your comfort level should also be checked. If a visit is too far to drive, you might cancel more often than you would if it were more convenient.
If your visit involves other teams, once again, respect the personal space of other animals. Do not let your animals interact physically, and keep your dog/pet at your side. Never let dogs interact with therapy cats or other animals. You should take the initiative to prevent close quarters or uncomfortable spaces on visits with multiple teams. If you are on a visit and don’t feel that your pet has adequate personal space, feel free to remove yourself from that environment.
Almost all of our animals have ways of telling us when they need to “go potty.” Pay attention to those signals and leave when your pet exhibits them. Do not try to stretch it out for just 5 more minutes. Always give your pet the opportunity to eliminate before a visit, and be sure to know where the designated elimination area is for each of your visits.
Encountering new stimuli, such as an elevator, will often upset therapy pets. Try to expose your pet to as many things as possible while you are preparing for your evaluation. Sometimes pets can also become overstimulated in some environments.
Overstimulation may manifest in different ways. It could be lack of self-control and jumping around, barking, pawing, spinning, an inability to settle down, and an exposed penis in male dogs.
Remember the saying, “the straw that broke the camel’s back?” You’ve experienced this, where several little stressors have happened & then there’s one that just elicits an overly frustrated response that is not in proportion to the little stressor.
In animals, especially dogs, this is called trigger stacking. Your dog/animal encounters something a little stressful, say on your daily walk (which is pleasant and relaxing) but you encounter a strange dog that gives your dog a hard stare. Its brief, but your dog recovers and continue on your walk, not thinking much more about it.
Then you encounter a group of kids eager to pet your dog. After you give them permission, they lean directly over your dog to pet her, and talk loudly. Again, your dog seems fine, but then right before you arrive home you encounter skateboarders. Your dog doesn’t like them.
Now, none of these in and of themselves is terribly stressful, but they all stack up, and then something little happens when your dog gets home from your walk, and she’s over threshold. It’s now likely a bite may occur if there’s another “straw” on the camel’s/dog’s back.
This is trigger stacking. As an advocate for your dog (and this happens with other species as well), you need to postpone a visit. If all this happens the day of your evaluation, you are best to reschedule.
Reactivity is also a cause for concern. If your pet is trying to avoid a situation or another pet or person, is vocalizing (either whining or growling), raising hackles, acting skittish, or air biting, remove your pet immediately. Some visits might be too emotional and may elicit uncomfortable or unpleasant memories for you. Perhaps it is a nursing home where you lost a loved one. Maybe you had an unpleasant experience in middle school. Be sure to know your clients and the environment before you commit to a visitation schedule. This is why we direct you to audit a facility without your pet prior to taking your therapy animal.
Finally, are you sure that visiting with your pet is something that both you and your pet want to do and would enjoy?
Sometimes you want to do visitation, but your pet does not really seem to enjoy it.
We are here to be sure that both you and your pet are doing something that is fun and enjoyable and that both want to do. If it is determined that this something you AND your pet enjoy, then decide where you want to visit. You also need to be prepared with the proper equipment and get ready for your evaluation day!
If you have new equipment for your dog/animal in preparation for the evaluation and visiting, be sure you use it prior to this time to get your dog/pet used to it.
If you share your life with a cat, you know when your cats are relaxed and happy. They curl up in a ball or stretch out, or even curl their front paws underneath them. They may close their eyes or blink softly as if fighting off sleep. During these times, even their whiskers will be relaxed, while their ears may swivel as they listen to what is going on in their environment. They have a soft body and no tension.
Often stress in cats is subtle. Our cats may feel stress when they are on visits with other teams that have dogs, or they may become stressed and anxious for the same reasons we do. Like dogs, cats have internal calming signals they use to try to cope with a stressful situation. Like dogs, cats may yawn, lip lick, freeze, blink a lot, groom themselves, look away or try to avoid engagement, hide, vocalize, their pupils may dilate, their facial whiskers may twitch a lot, their tail may tuck and like in dogs, they may get piloerection (hair standing up on their shoulders).
Stress in cats may be caused from being bored or overstimulated. They can also be triggered by noise, as they tend to prefer calm, quiet environments where they feel safe. Even changes in temperature can be stressful for cats. For some cats, too much petting or holding isn’t enjoyable and causes stress. Their skin is quite sensitive so lots of petting can be overwhelming for them. We want to pay attention to their tails. A still or slowly moving tail from side to side at the tip is a sure sign of anxiety. Your kitty might be needing some reassurance if you see this. 62
Never force your cat to engage or socialize on your visits. Allow them to set the limits for the interaction so that it’s pleasurable for all and pay attention to the calming signs your cat is displaying.
We’ve noted dilated pupils as a stress signal in cats. Other signs are ears back, flat to their head, and whiskers back against their cheeks. As in other species, a tense body indicates stress. Vocalizations like hissing, spitting, yowling, growling, increased meowing, drooling, are all signs of stress. Their tail held close to the body like in dogs is another sign. Crouching their whole body down and not moving or being particularly jumpy when there’s a sudden noise are also signs of stress. Be sure to view the video on cat body language. Video can be found on the website in the Members Only section under “Training Resources; WAGS Library: Understanding Cat Body Language.”
Remember you are your pet’s advocate. If your kitty cat is feeling stressed, end the visit and go home. You want this to be an enjoyable experience. This visit might not be the best fit for your cat or perhaps your cat just doesn’t enjoy visiting with others.
Rabbits have really complex body language and communicate so much information in their movements and positions! Let’s take a look at what rabbits tell us.
Rabbits will loudly thump or stomp their hind leg when they are in danger. Rabbits, as prey animals, do this to communicate danger to other rabbits. It can also be a sign your rabbit is annoyed with you.
Like cats and guinea pigs, rabbits seem to purr. It’s actually gentle soft grinding of their teeth which indicates they are content. However, if its loud teeth grinding, this may mean the rabbit wants something to be over.
Like some other animals, rabbits may rub their chins on objects or people. While often a cute behavior, this is a rabbit’s way of marking their territory. They have scent glands under their chins. The scent is unrecognizable to humans.
Often, we think of “binky” as being a pacifier for a young child, however in rabbit speak, this is a very unique jump, combined with a twist and sometimes leg kicking. As one might expect, jumping and kicking one’s legs out communicates happiness and playfulness!
From reading this manual you have learned that lip licking is a sign of stress in dogs. In rabbits, if they lick you, it’s a sign they really like you and are showing you affection. While your rabbit should always be in a harness and on a leash, if they are on the floor and circling feet, they may be trying to get your attention, or it is more likely they are becoming sexually mature and it’s time for that spay/neuter. But, with all animal behavior, you need to know your rabbit. It could be a sign they are ready to play. Also, when you are on a visit, be careful if your bunny is on the floor as you don’t want them to get stepped on by anyone that you are visiting.
Bunnies that flatten themselves with head and ears down very flat are signaling they are frightened and trying to blend into the environment. Rabbits will also stretch out flat when they are relaxed, but their body language is very different when relaxed.
You’ve heard of the “bunny hop?” Well the bunny FLOP is a signal they are totally relaxed, which may happen after they are grooming themselves or sitting still.
Sometimes rabbits will make a sudden lunging movement towards you with their ears back but head and tail up. This is a very clear signal they do not like what is happening and someone needs to back off
Like guinea pigs, rabbits also may vocalize. These vocalizations are used for communication as well. Like in cats, hissing, snorting, growling, or grunting are all signs of a bunny that is feeling stressed or threatened, or even angry. This sound might be followed with a lunge or possibly a bite. Soft squeals may indicate mild annoyance.
Soft oinking like a pig, or honking, is often associated with sexual interest. Again, if this is coupled with the circling we discussed above, then it’s time for neutering. As one would expect, a scream from your bunny is a sign of either great pain or fear. Best to remove your rabbit from a visit and follow up with a trip to the veterinarian to make sure your bunny is okay.
2.4.7 Guinea Pigs
Cavies (guinea pigs) are prey animals, so seeing larger animals, like a cat or dogs on your visit, may indeed cause your piggy stress. Handling can often be stressful as well. But these are social animals and they exhibit a wide range of expressions.
Guinea pigs use vocalizations to communicate. For instance, they may “whistle” which sounds like a high-pitched whistle/squeal. This means the guinea pig is excited. Maybe it’s playtime, maybe they are going on a visit, or maybe it’s time for dinner.
Like cats, guinea pigs purr. A high-pitched purr is a sign of annoyance, while a deeper, relaxed purr is suggestive of your piggy being content. Short sounding purrs can be a sign of fear or danger, just as a high-pitched squeal shriek or squeak is indicating fear.
We talked about hissing in cats and rabbits. Hissing in guinea pigs is kind of like teeth chattering. This is a sign that your cavy is angry and may act aggressively. Sometimes they bare their teeth when doing this.
As we have looked at body language in other species, it’s important to know what your cavy is saying with their bodies. Rapidly hopping up and down, sometimes known as popcorn popping is a sign of happiness. With other guinea pigs, they may rub noses or lick each other which are other forms of friendliness. Because cavies are prey animals, if they are scared or unhappy, they will often freeze, fidget or throw their head up in the air to show you they are uncomfortable or scared. If they bare their teeth, hiss, and hair fluff, these are signs of aggression.
Bottom line, stressed guinea pigs will show signs of irritability and have more aggressive displays of behavior such as mentioned above. Depressed guinea pigs will act lethargic and listless. Don’t let your guinea pig get to this point in a visit!
We strongly suggest you bring disposable pads to seta new one on patients each time when they hold your cavy. Guinea pigs aren't easy to housebreak and can have accidents at any time.
2.4.8 Domesticated Rats
Not everyone appreciates the fact that rats are extremely clean animals and very intelligent social creatures! Like other pocket pets, they need to be fitted with a harness and a leash for visits.
A rat’s whiskers are very sensitive. Rats use their whiskers to “see” (sense) their surroundings. Stressed rats may have a change in the appearance of their eyes; they may become glassy or exhibit a runny fluid coming from their eyes.
Like some of the other pocket pets, rats have a wide vocabulary of vocalizations. Loud vocalizations are generally signs of stress. A shriek or scream is an indicator of strong distress or pain. Rats may also hiss to let you know they are stressed. While very subtle, a change in breathing patterns may also be a sign your rat is stressed.
Changes in their alertness can be a sign of stress as well. They may become hyperactive, unable to focus on anything, or they may hyper-focus their attention on one thing to the exclusion of everything else.
Rats who don’t enjoy being handled will urinate or defecate when picked up. Sometimes when stressed, they will grind their teeth (known as bruxing). However, it’s important that you know your rat, because sometimes when rats are relaxed, they will grind their teeth, kind of like a cat purring.
Sounds of pleasure are emitted from rats, although they are generally at frequency above human’s range of hearing. Eye boggling also occurs at times of relaxation. We know that rats are very curious creatures, and will look for a way out of whatever containment they are in. However, if your rat is urgently looking for an escape route, this is a sign of stress and anxiety. External stressors may be of concern for your rat, so look for a peaceful place to calm them.
Rats are extremely susceptible to high temperatures. They can become overheated quickly and experience heat exhaustion in temps of 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Also keep in mind that rats are both prey and predator; they may feel uneasy visiting in close proximity to dogs and cats.
For purposes of the evaluation, vocalizations are a sign your rat is “not ready” to become a therapy rat at this time. Of course, if your rat bites, then that’s a sign of “not appropriate” for therapy work, and we will not evaluate again.
2.4.9 Birds
Like all of the other species we have discussed, birds are very sensitive social creatures and experience stress in many ways. Whether you have a small budgie, parrot or even a large macaw, it’s important to recognize signs of stress and intervene quickly to calm your bird.
Birds need to be thoroughly socialized because they are still essentially “undomesticated.” They are socialized to people, and can still enjoy relationships with people, but they may not be willing to accept strangers without a lot of socialization. We know that as prey animals, they may be fearful and engage in avoidance behaviors such as leaning away, getting closer to their person/handler or preparing for flight, often with their head and body down and wings opening for flight.
Happy birds may exhibit their contentment or excitement with loose, ruffled feathers. They may stretch one leg and one wing on the same side of the body, and then doing the same on the other side. They may wiggle their tail back and forth or have a rapid puffing out of feathers for a brief moment. Happy birds will lift one foot up upon meeting someone, saying they are willing to step up.
One physical indicator that a bird is stressed is what’s known as stress lines, or stress bars on their feathers.
These lines run down the shaft of the feather, indicating that your bird is stressed.This may happen as you are desensitizing your bird to wear a harness and leash. It takes some time, and it’s not something you can do quickly to get ready for evaluating and visiting.
Most birds tend to be vocal, some louder than others, but they all vocalize. Sometimes a sudden scream or screeching may indicate your bird is unhappy, stressed or in some cases, bored. Sometimes a decrease in vocalizations is an indication of stress, so it’s important that you know the stress signs in your bird.
A sudden change in demeanor can also signal stress. Biting, hissing, and lunging are signs of aggression that a bird will use to protect itself if it’s feeling stressed or threatened. Often environmental changes are the cause for upset in your bird.
When birds are curious or excited, they will often demonstrate eye pinning. This is when a bird’s eyes contract and dilate. In parrots, this display of excitement is usually accompanied with biting.
It’s important to understand displacement behaviors. These are normal activities displayed out of context and generally indicate anxiety, conflict, or your bird’s uneasiness.
Like dogs, they may look away from the activity. They may also throw food or treats, shake their feathers, chew or peck, and also preen.
It’s important that your bird be able to step up and that the person having the bird step up is not approaching the bird in the “bite zone,” (from keel bone to beak), as your bird may see this as threatening and subsequently will bite, pinch, or back away.
It's important to recognize that birds tend to eliminate about every 15-20 minutes. A flight suit allows for containment of the feces. As noted above, your bird needs to be on a harness/leash, however, flying on a tether is not an acceptable part of visitation. Obviously, avians are not mammals/carriers of rabies and therefore do not require rabies vaccination, but we do require a signed health screening as part of the registration paperwork.
2.5 WAGS Ambassador Evaluation Requirements
2.5.1 Health Requirements
1. Pets should be current on all required vaccines. Rabies is required! The rabies certificate MUST include the lot and/or serial number and manufacturer. (See example at the end of this chapter.) All other vaccines are per vet or facility recommendation.
2. Animals must be in good health and of proper weight. If the vet says an animal is obese, we will NOT evaluate. There should be no rashes, open wounds, lameness, sutures, antibiotics for infections, odd smelling breath or ears. (See Body Condition Chart at the end of this chapter.)
3. Dogs and cats must be house-trained. Other animals such as birds, rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, etc., must be in baskets or carriers AND wearing a harness with a leash.
4. Animals must be free of internal and external parasites and have a fecal test within 6 months by flotation.
5. Animals must be groomed within 24 hours prior to the visit. If needed, they should be bathed. Nails should be trimmed a few days prior to evaluation day. Eyes and ears should be clear of discharge. Long haired animals should be thoroughly brushed with knots and tangles removed.
6. Do not apply flea products and remove flea collars within 48 hours prior to evaluation or visiting.
7. “Pocket pets” must be at least 6 months old & have lived with the handler for 6 months; all other animals must be least 1½ years (18 months) old. Birds must have lived with the handler for 1 year.
We want you to be successful on your journey to becoming a WAGS Ambassador therapy team with your pet. We require you to volunteer playing a part in the evaluation scenarios. This way, you can see in “real time” what skills we are looking for in a team.
You also have access to watch video recordings of stellar teams going through the evaluation. You may access the link to these through the website in the Members Only section under Step 3.
Once a team has completed all the scenarios, the Evaluator will meet with the team and review the exercises, sharing what they did well, and where they need to improve. While this is happening, the Skilled Assistant will be asking what you noticed, and explaining to the volunteers what went well, and what needs improvedment. This gives you a better understanding of what you will need to do when you are ready to take the evaluation.
3.0 The Hands-on Evaluation
We acknowledge the Hands-on evaluation might not be an indicator of how a pet will behave on an actual visit. However, for purposes of liability and quality assurance, we require this evaluation as a step towards full registration as a WAGS Ambassador Therapy team.
The evaluation consists of several exercises within four scenarios. It is expected that you role-play as if you were doing an actual visit.
Scenario #1:
Exercise #1: Appearance & Grooming: E/SA will introduce themselves and ask about you/your pet.Pet should remain by handler’s side, calm and relaxed or, in the case of a carried pet, should be still, comfortable and relaxed in handler’s arms as the E/SA walks around the team.
Handler should be clean and well groomed; dressed in appropriate clothing such as might be called “business casual.” Sandals or opentoed shoes are NOT acceptable. No excessive cologne/perfume or dangling jewelry that could present a safety issue. E/SA will brush pet with appropriate brush provided by the handler.
E/SA observes appearance of the team. Leash must be 4 feet. Handler must never, ever** drop the leash. Pet should be clean and mat-free; nails appropriate length with no sharp edges; should smell clean with no strong odor from ears or breath and teeth should be free of excess tartar.
Carried pets should be groomed on a table. Handler will bring a mat or rug for this exercise if they desire.
E/SA will handle muzzle to inspect teeth, handle ears to inspect and check for odors, touch all 4 paws/feet, and go over entire body including underbody, and gently tug on tail.
Exercise 1 flows into Exercise 2.
Exercise #2: Accepting a stranger; overall exam; exuberant & clumsy petting; restraining hug. E/SA begins petting gently, escalating to more active petting with high pitched vowel sounding vocalization/ noises; clap behind the head and using elbows to pet. E/SA will give a restraining hug, which should last just a matter of seconds, animal should not be lifted off the ground. Carried pets will be on a table for this exercise. Handler will bring mat or towel.
** We recognize that there may be times when one needs to relinquish control of the leash due to emergency situations. WAGS has established a specific safety protocol for Handing Off the Leash.
See Chapter Six, Visiting Team Connection for more information about Handing off the Leash.
Exercise #3: Pet accepting the brush. Be sure you bring a soft brush that your pet is used to. E/SA will run the brush over your pet a couple of times.
Scenario #2:
Exercise # 4: Out for a walk with distractions. Team will walk down the “hallway” to meet some residents. Neutral dog will be off to the side. Team will encounter auditory distractions in the form of a squeeky toy, a garbage bag being opened/shaken; clipboard dropped, etc., while the team is also navigating a treat on the floor and a tissue. This is an opportunity to utilize the “leave it” command. Additional visual distractions will be a walker/medical equipment, a Swiffer, etc. Carried pets will be carried during this exercise.
It’s finally here! You have spent months (usually 4-6) preparing to have your pet evaluated! You attended a membership meeting, attended orientation, paid your dues, successfully completed WAGS 101, volunteered on an evaluation day/evening, and you finally have scheduled your evaluation. Because the evaluations are time and labor intensive, our volunteers can only offer them a few times each year.
Evaluations require a great deal of planning and set-up. Many people volunteer to make sure the day goes smoothly and that all of the paperwork is properly processed. We hope you took the opportunity to think about what your pet and you might need to work on to prepare for YOUR evaluation day.
Although we certainly understand that this can be a very stressful day, we ask that you treat every person you encounter at the evaluations with courtesy, respect, and patience.
We refuse to register a team if the handler is rude to our fellow WAGS members. We can (and will) dismiss you from the evaluation site if we determine that you are either not ready to be evaluated, or act inappropriately and unprofessionally. This includes how you react to your score after the evaluation.
Rudeness is not and will not be tolerated.
Don’t wear your pet out prior to the evaluation, unless you have a pet that is very high energy. We urge you to avoid attending the membership meeting the day you are being evaluated. You never know what stressors could occur and upset your dog/pet before the evaluation. Remember trigger stacking?
Do not arrive for your scheduled evaluation more than 15 minutes before it is scheduled to begin. Animals in the hallway sense the tension and might not perform well. Remember, YOU are an advocate for your best friend. Always keep his or her peace of mind at the top of your concerns.
The evaluation includes having a neutral dog present for several of the exercises, including taking a treat with a neutral dog present.
Eating the treat is not required; however if your pet has special dietary restrictions, please bring your special treat, and be sure you notify the Evaluator/Skilled Assistant (E/SA) of these dietary restrictions.
Also notify the E/SA if your animal is a service dog, has recently had an injury or surgery or is disabled in any way. You may bring your dog’s (pet’s) towel, mat, or rug for the evaluation if you feel your pet would prefer using one.
4.1.1 Important Facts, Useful Information and Helpful Hints
Animals and handlers must behave appropriately at ALL times while on the evaluation site. If you or your animal is observed acting inappropriately prior to the evaluation, (such as at the registration table) the evaluators may refuse to evaluate you on this day. If an animal eliminates inside the building at any time, they will be marked as Not Ready, even if the team passed the evaluation, (except for rabbits, guinea pigs or other small animals).
Handlers are not permitted to give food or toys to the animal during the evaluation. After you sign in at the registration table, please wait quietly with your pet. You should have given them a bathroom break prior to entering the facility, but if you have time you can walk them around outside until your evaluation time arrives. Only use the designated potty area, and clean up after your pet.
When you enter the evaluation area, you and your pet will be given a few minutes to get comfortable in that area before the first exercise begins.
You MAY NOT interact with the neutral pet or volunteers prior to the exercise. The evaluator and skilled assistant(s) will review your veterinary report and self-report to determine if there are any hints that your pet is not ready to undergo the evaluation (such as a dog that is that is afraid of men or the vet deemed obese).
During the evaluation exercises, you and your pet will be interacting with the Evaluator (E) and Skilled Assistant (SA) and volunteers.
You will be given instructions before each exercise or group of exercises. If at any time, you do not understand the instructions, please ask for the instructions to be repeated or clarified.
At the completion of the exercises, you and the Evaluator will go over the results of the evaluation, and if there were any areas on the evaluation where you had trouble, helpful tips will be shared with you. You will be asked to accept the outcome regardless of what it is. Please remember to be respectful to all the volunteers, even if you are disappointed with the outcome.
Upon a successful evaluation you will receive a Congratulations letter. You MUST present this at the time of your Mentored Visit.
On your way out, you will stop back at the registration table to receive information on how to schedule your Mentored Visit.
4.2 How the Evaluation is Scored
Handlers and their animal are scored separately as well as a team. If on an exercise, you score a 1 and your pet scores a 2, 3, 4 or 5, we take the lowest score.
Teams are ranked as Level 3; Level 2; Level 1 (like our facilities) or NR (Not ready) or NA (Not appropriate). Let’s take a closer look:
Scoring of the Handler:
Level 3 Handler: A Level 3 Handler will have exceptional handling skills, be confident, outgoing, consistently proactive (plan ahead directing appropriate behaviors and not waiting for a problem to occur and then fixing it), and easily approachable. They know their pet and its skills and abilities and quickly recognize any fatigue or stress signals their pet may subtly exhibit.
They quickly assess the environment of the visit and can easily adapt to new or unusual circumstances. They give excellent cues in a very pleasant tone of voice, their dress and preparedness far exceeds WAGS guidelines. Exceptional role play.
Level 2 Handler: A Level 2 Handler will have very good handling and people skills, will be intermittently reactive/proactive, will give good cues most of the time but may give unnecessary cues or repeat them one or two times. Tone of voice is appropriate. Attentive to pet most of the time, but they can sometimes get distracted and lose focus in a stimulating or distracting environment. They may need some time to adapt to new or unusual circumstances. They may need stronger signals to recognize stress or fatigue in their pet and miss subtle cues from their pet.Their dress and preparedness meets or exceeds WAGS guidelines.They exhibit some intermittent role play.
Level 1 Handler: A Level 1 handler will have adequate skills that meet the minimum WAGS guidelines. Their pet’s performance may be less than it could be because of missed opportunities for guidance and support. They may need more time to adapt to new or unusual circumstances and may exhibit minimal stress. Dress and preparedness meets WAGS guidelines. Cues given in tone of voice that is OK or may be a bit stern. They participate minimally in role play.
NR Handler: A Not Ready (NR) handler is not aware of actions or emotional state of their pet. They are either always reactive or inactive with directives. They may not be easily engaged with interactions and there is no role play. They do not recognize stress or fatigue in their pet and do not offer directives or support. Tone of voice may sound punitive and very harsh.
NA Handler: A Not Appropriate (NA) Handler is inappropriate with interactions, exhibits harsh corrections of their pet, demonstrates harsh treatment of the evaluation team, and highly stressed. They show no concern for the stress of their pet or the safety of the crowd. Displaying a rude or abusive behavior towards their pet or the evaluation team, or in response to their evaluation score at the end. When scored NA the team is NOT eligible to re-evaluate at any time.
Scoring for the Pet
Level 3 Pet: A Level 3 pet is exceptionally confident, outgoing, and easily adapts to new or unusual circumstances. They are immediately comfortable in a new environment and are trusting and engaged with their handler. They look for direction and cues from their handler and are responsive even in high distraction/stimulating environment. They truly enjoy and seek interactions from people.
Level 2 Pet: A Level 2 pet is intermittently confident and/or cautious in a new or unusual environment or circumstance. They respond well with low distractions but may need an additional cue or lose focus with higher distractions but they do respond with one or two directives. They may be a little exuberant but settle quickly and easily with direction. They enjoy interactions.
Level I Pet: A Level 1 pet needs and responds to cues in both low level and higher-level distraction environments. They may be easily stimulated in high distraction environments. They can lose focus without good direction from the handler. They do not exhibit fear but may experience low levels of stress in certain situations. They may exhibit exuberance in interactions and need direction to control impulses. They usually enjoy interactions but may need encouragement if they encounter an unusual situation.
NR Pet: A Not Ready (NR) pet is shy or exhibiting high levels of stress or even a little fear if startled or in an unusual situation or circumstance. They may be overstimulated, exuberant, and not under voice control. They may not be able to respond to cues or complete one of the exercises. They may jump up or vocalize excessively. They may be unclean or have mats, long nails, open wound, unpleasant or strong smelling breath, ears or fur. They may be obese or wearing equipment that is not approved.
NA Pet: A Not Appropriate (NA) for the pet is a pet that is extremely fearful, has no interaction, growled/snapped at the neutral dog or evaluation team. They may lunge after the neutral dog, or evaluation team, are mouthy, and/or show any type of aggressive behavior. When a team is scored NA they are not eligible to re-evaluate at any time.
4.2.1 What if I Score NR? Can We
Re-evaluate?
Yes, you can certainly be reevaluated! In fact, we encourage you to do so. If there is a particular skill that caused your first attempt to be unsuccessful, be sure that you have worked on it, and that it has improved per the recommendation of the evaluator that talked to you after your first evaluation. There is no limit to the times you can try to pass the evaluation, as long as you are working with your pet and we see improvement in the behaviors that are needed.
4.2.2 What if I Score NA?
A NA team is one we deem Not Appropriate for visitation. There are several reasons why we would mark a team inappropriate, including an animal that is exhibiting extreme fear or stress, is growling or snapping, is too aged or infirm, lunging at animals or people, or is dirty or is not interested in interactions.
We will also mark a handler NA if we see any behavior that is rude, harassing, harsh or abusive to the animal and/or the people, unconcerned for the comfort of the animal, or not in control of the animal. We also will dismiss any person who attempts to evaluate under the influence of alcohol or drugs or who is abusive to our volunteers and/or evaluators/skilled assistants. A team who receives a NA may NOT reevaluate at any time.
Some animals may have passed the WAGS Ambassador evaluation, but the evaluator may feel the pet is just too exuberant to visit with very small children (just an example). In such cases they may be “passed with qualifications” to not visit with children under the age of 5 years old, for example. This may also include the qualification to not visit “medically fragile/complex patients.”
WAGS defines medically fragile/complex as frail elders, those with easily torn skin, those who may be connected by tubes to medical equipment, unstable on their feet, or unsteady gait, as well as those that may be ICU/CCU patients, or someone with severe Autism Spectrum Disorder.
It is possible that while your dog/pet loves interacting with people, they are not good around other animals. A qualification here may be the Ambassador team cannot visit with other teams.
4.3 How Can I Change the Level I Scored When My
Pet & I Successfully Completed the Evaluation?
If you scored a Level 2, but would like a Level 3, you can reschedule to take a hands-on evaluation at the next evaluation date or any time in the next two years before your registration expiration. You can move up from a Level 1 to a Level 2 during the second part of the evaluation, which is known as the Mentored Visit (MV). A team cannot move up to a Level 3 during a Mentored Visit.
4.4 How Can I Change the Equipment I use?
Equipment changes must be completed in a hands-on evaluation. If your dog has been visiting in a head collar, such as a Halti or Gentle Leader, and you want to be able to visit in a regular collar, you must schedule a hands-on evaluation.
You may, however, move from least restrictive equipment to more restrictive equipment without re-evaluation. For Example: If you evaluated and visit in a regular collar, but your dog has been demonstrating some increased pulling that you want to get a grip on, you may move to more restrictive equipment, such as a head halter or harness.
The form for changing equipment may be found on the website in the Members Only Section of the website, under Step 6, Visiting Team Connection, “Visitation Docs & Forms.”
Chapter Five
5.0 Mentored Visit & Getting Ready to Visit
5.1 We Passed!!!! Now What?
Congratulations! Even though you have passed the evaluation, you and your animal will be monitored the whole time you are on the evaluation site. If something occurs after the evaluation, such as the animal eliminates on site, or growls or nips at a person or other animal, they can be considered either Not Ready or Not Appropriate, and your previous score will be changed. So, you might want to head outside for a quick potty break before learning more about scheduling the Mentored Visit.
After you have passed the WAGS Ambassador Team evaluation, you must undergo a Mentored Visit (MV) prior to visiting on your own. This is the second part of your evaluation. A MV allows the Evaluators to see how you and your pet perform on an actual visit, and gives the team a chance to see what the visits are like before being on their own. Following your evaluation, stop by the registration table to get information about scheduling your MV online.
Scheduling the MV is completed on-line through the website under the Members Only section under Step 5, “Request Your Mentored Visit.” Here you will also find instructions for what you need to bring with you for your MV.
The score you receive on your MV will determine at what level you will be ranked for visitation. Teams are ranked at Levels 1, 2, or 3, following the MV.
If a team scored a 1 during the hands-on evaluation, they could possibly move to a Level 2, if they score at least a 2 on every exercise with an average of 2.5 or higher on their MV. However, if the team received a 2 in the hands-on evaluation, but did not perform well on the MV, they could be reduced to a Level 1. You do have three (3) opportunities to have a successful MV outcome.
Teams cannot be elevated to a Level 3 on a MV if they scored less than a 3 on the hands-on evaluation. In order to move to a Level 3 or to change equipment or restrictions/qualifications, a team must undergo a new hands-on evaluation.
Scoring a Not Ready (NR), simply means just that; as a team you and your pet need some more time to work on skills. It may be that your pet is too exuberant or too young; you forgot to role-play or held a tight leash. Perhaps your obedience commands weren't too great and your dog didn't hold the stay. You were probably both a little nervous.
The GOOD news is you now know what you both need to work on! You’ve got valuable data to begin working on the skills that were scored NR. Don’t despair, you can re-evaluate! WAGS will return your check so you are not charged, or if you prefer, we can hold your check for when you re-evaluate.
We also provide a virtual meeting to help process what the NR score means and what you need to do to be successful with your pet when you re-evaluate. More information about this will be given to you after the evaluation.
5.3 The Mentored Visit
A mentored visit is an opportunity for a team who has successfully completed the WAGS Ambassador hands-on Evaluation, to demonstrate their skills in a “real life” facility. The team will participate in an actual pet therapy session and interact with clients/patients, while utilizing the experience and expertise of a mentor. The Mentored Visit was instituted to allow teams to be able to demonstrate their abilities and talents in a way that cannot be appreciated in a structured formal evaluation.
Remember to schedule your MV online through the website, Members Only section under Step 5, “Request Your Mentored Visit.” Here you will find instructions and a list of facilities available to perform your MV. Don’t forget to have your Congratulations letter with you at that time!
You must have successfully completed your MV within six (6) months. You will have three opportunities to successfully complete a MV before you and your pet will need to go through the hands-on evaluation again. There are only a few facilities available for a MV. You must choose from the list provided.
Once you successfully complete your MV, you are ready to select a visitation facility and contact the team leader of that team for your audit.
Auditing a facility means visiting without your pet. This gives you the opportunity to observe a team performing a visit. This also allows you to assess the environment from the unique perspective of you and your pet to see if it would be a good fit for both of you. You may also inquire what facility specific requirements there might be that extend beyond what WAGS requires. When you have selected a facility that you have an interest in visiting, contact the team leader of the facility to make arrangements to observe their visit. In the Members Only section of the website, under “Visiting Info,” you can find the "List of Active Facilities,” and “Facilities Needing Teams.” You will find contact information on Team Leaders in both these areas.
The occasion may occur that a facility does not have any current teams visiting. If this is the case, work with the WAGS Facility Committee to help you set up a time to meet with the facility’s contact person. Then do an Audit visit without your pet to see if you think it would be a good visit for you.
You may feel uncomfortable visiting at a facility that does not currently have teams. Please express your concerns to the WAGS Facilities Committee. They will work to have another WAGS person go with you on the visit, if possible.
Upon completing your audit and committing to a facility, please notify the Facilities Committee so they may update their records.
*Please note that some facilities require onsite training/orientation for volunteering. You must abide by all facility requirements, including, but not limited to: facility dress code, required vaccines, background checks, vaccination records, etc.
Copyright 2023 WAGS Pet Therapy of Kentucky, Inc.
5.5 Facility Rankings
Each facility WAGS visits has been screened by an experienced WAGS member to determine the level of routine predictability, staff support, and distraction. A Level 3 facility contains aspects that require more dexterity, attention and obedience from your pet and you.
A Level 1 facility is a bit more relaxed or involves less attention to fragile persons and/or equipment. The level you received at your hands-on evaluation/MV will determine what level of facility you can visit with your pet.
Teams can only visit a facility at or below the level they received on their MV. For example, if you receive a Level 1 but wish to visit a Level 3 facility, you will have to re-take the hands-on evaluation at another time.
5.6 What Evaluators/Skilled Assistants Are Looking for in Mentored Visits.
1. Did the team arrive on time?
2. Did the team present their “Congratulations” letter as their ID? This letter would be received when the hands-on evaluation was passed.
3. Was the handler dressed appropriately? Are they wearing closed toed shoes? Are they wearing too much perfume or cologne, dangling jewelry, etc.? Handler may wear WAGS wear clothing and we encourage you to do so.
4. Was the pet groomed appropriately?
5. Was the pet wearing approved equipment?
6. Were the required items present in the WAGS bag?
These include vaccination records, contact information (this may be kept on one’s phone), incident reports, and optional items such as WAGS brochures, etc.
7.How did the team enter the facility?
8.How social was the handler?
9.How social was the animal?
10.Did the team encounter any new situations (I.e. an elevator, medical equipment, fire alarms, etc.)?
11.Would this facility be a good fit for this team? Explain why.
12.Overall visitation skills of this team.
5.7 Packing Your Bag for Your Mentored Visit
5.7.1 Items that MUST be included at all times:
WAGS Ambassador ID and Animal’s tag. (You will not have this yet for your MV, bring the “Congratulations letter” you received after the hands-on evaluation.)
Clean up materials (plastic bags for feces removal, paper towels and disinfectant cleaner).
Waterless hand cleaner.
Handout “Procedures for Handling an Incident.” This can be found in the Members Only Section of the website under Step 5 “Visitation docs / forms; Procedure for Incidents.” Be sure to make additional copies!
WAGS Incident Report. This can be found in the Members Only Section of the website under Step 5 “Visitation docs / forms; Paper Incident Report Form.” Be sure to make additional copies of the blank form!
Name and phone number of the Evaluator/Skilled Assistant who will be evaluating you. (This will be the name and number of the person conducting the MV.)
Pet’s current vaccination records.
Water and dish
Hand Sanitizer
Towel to wipe your dog’s feet, etc., in case of inclement weather or to use if your dog drools.
Items that MUST be included, in addition to the above according to CDC Guidelines during times of infectious disease are listed below. The most current list of these items may be found in the Members Only section: Step 6: “Visitation Docs & Forms: Packing your Bag.”
Hand Sanitizer
Waterless disinfectant cleaner (to clean up any accidents that may occur).
2% Chlorhexidine or acceptable cleaner for leash, collar, and harness
Remember the most current list of items can be found in the Members Only section of the website. Step 6: “Therapy Team Visitation Docs and Forms: Packing your Bag.”
Appropriate brush (soft bristles, like a baby’s brush, curry brush, hand-mitt brush, anything soft, synthetic or rubber bristles that will not be able to scratch or poke the person you are visiting or your pet. You may also use a washcloth instead of a brush). Remember, the brush is not intended to actually groom your pet.
Sticky roller brush
Treats
Toys
WAGS Logo Wear for you and your pet
Wet wipes or pre-moistened bath towelettes to clean your dog/ pet after visitation
WAGS brochures and cards
4 foot cloth or leather leash (if you plan to let someone “walk” your dog)
On your MV, your E/SA will look through the bag you have designated as your “WAGS bag.” You may purchase one with the WAGS logo or you may pack a bag of your own. Make sure it looks clean and professional.
5.8 We Passed Our Mentored Visit! Now What Happens on a Regular Visit?
Once you’ve completed the audit and begin visiting with your pet, what can you expect on visit? The Team Leader designates a meeting spot in accordance with facility recommendations. If you cannot make a visit or you need to leave early, notify your Team Leader as soon as possible. The Team Leader can excuse a team from the visit if necessary.
You should arrive about 15 minutes prior to your visit time. Introduce your pet to the designated area for elimination.
The visit begins the minute you enter the property of the facility. Meet with the other teams in the designated area. Animals should NOT play with each other before a visit. Never drop your leash! (See page 116 for how to apply for permission to Hand off the Leash on a visit.) If you need to visit the restroom, take your pet with you. Never drop your leash. As soon as you drop your leash, you have violated the conditions of the WAGS liability agreement/visitation policies & procedures that you signed.
After the visit, you should leave the facility at the designated time. Do not sit around and socialize with teammates or staff on the facility property after the visit’s designated times unless there have been arrangements made to allow you to do so.
WAGS requires that you use a 4’ leash at all times
You may wish to carry an extra 4’ leash with you in case someone wants to “help” you walk your dog. (Remember never let someone just take your dog for a walk without you ALSO holding the leash). Even if you had obtained permission to hand off the leash, you NEVER allow a client/patient to take control of your dog. Handing off the leash protocol requires another WAGS member.
Give yourself plenty of time to get the facility that you are visiting. Arrive 15 minutes early for meet and greets (a simple 5 second “hello;” a little sniffing then separate). Leave no more than 15 minutes after the end of the scheduled visit.
You must audit the facility you would like to visit. This is to let you determine if your dog/pet would be comfortable in that surrounding. This does not apply to one time visits or special events.
Only WAGS members shall participate in visitation. Guests should wait in a common area for the visit to end. Guests may accompany the WAGS member on a visit only with prior approval from the facility.
You may begin regular visits with your pet once you have passed your MV.You will use your “Congratulations” letter as your WAGS ID until you receive your actual WAGS Ambassador ID badge. Remember to contact Team Leaders and to audit facilities prior to joining visiting teams.
You should always carry a copy of your animal’s vaccination/shot records and an Incident Report form in your bag. Other papers you may choose to carry are copies of your TB test, Covid vaccine/boosters, the cell phone and phone numbers of the Team Leader, the facility you are visiting, other team members, etc. Some facilities want more paperwork than others. Follow any additional facility requirements for paperwork.
If you have more than one pet therapy animal, you may only take ONE of them on a visit at a time!
Always wear your ID badge when you are on a visit.
Make sure you maintain at least 3 feet personal space between other dogs/animals (or the 6 foot social distancing CDC guidelines) on the visit. Some dogs have space issues and don’t want other dogs/animals too close to them.
Do NOT ask someone else to hold your dog/pet while you do something else, (i.e. go to the restroom). Take your pet with you! (Unless of course, you have the designated sticker on your badge indicating you applied for permission and took the assessment to hand off the leash).
Remember—-It is perfectly alright if you see that your dog/pet is getting over-tired, stressed, or is not acting normally, to end a visit early. Just let the Team Leader or Director of the facility know that you feel your dog/ animal needs to stop for the day and leave.
This is especially important for new WAGS Ambassador Teams because the animal tends to tire quickly due to the new environment, new experience, new people, etc. There Is nothing wrong with easing your animal into doing visits. If you’re unsure if your pet likes something—it probably doesn’t!!
Be your pet’s advocate! It’s okay to cut a visit short if your dog/animal is “done.” Never hesitate to say no if someone asks your pet to do something you’re uncomfortable with. Don’t let people “wind up” your dog/pet; they need to stay calm during the visit.
Clean floors on a visit are a must—you can ask for a room to be swept if lots of things are on the floor.
Watch using the “leave it” command when your pet sniffs inappropriately (such as a diaper on a person, etc.). People can be offended being called “it.” You may choose to pat your leg and say “with me” or teach your dog the “touch” command to refocus.
HIPAA guidelines are always in place; which means NOT discussing illnesses, diagnoses, criminal charges, etc.
Be respectful of patients. Do not ask what they are “in for” as HIPAA guidelines are always in place.
Get on patients’ level. If the patient is in a wheelchair, try to kneel, but don’t hang on to or touch the wheelchair. Try not to be “chatty Kathy.” We suggest you knock on the door and ask the person if they would like a visit with your friend or animal, rather than asking, “do you like dogs?”
If your dog/pet is “out of sorts” i.e. barking, grumbling, won’t settle, etc., and you can’t get them to refocus after 1 or 2 barks, take a break immediately and/or end the visit.
If people are afraid of your dog/animal, RESPECT their wishes.
Typically we do NOT visit facilities that already have in-house facility dogs. There are a few occasions when there is a specifically designated facility person who is responsible for securing the facility animal so there are no interactions between WAGS teams and the facility animal.
Be careful not to sign up for too many visits. (WAGS recommends 4 visits per month at the maximum and then you can do Special Events when they come up.) We do not want to stress our pets. Some signs of stress in dogs would be excessive panting, shedding hair, looking for the exit, licking their lips excessively, excessive whining, hiding, and refusing food.
Your pet should have at least 8-10 hours rest between visits.
You are not covered by insurance if you use your dog/animal at work, or if you are getting paid in any way.
If you wish to use your dog/animal for your work, you will need to carry an extra insurance policy.
Be on time! Do NOT schedule a visit that you have to rush from work or get ready to get there. If you are scheduled for a 6:00p visit and you arrive at 6:00p, you are LATE! If you are unable to keep a scheduled visit, you need to contact your Team Leader and/or the facility contact person.
Things such as scratches, mishaps, spills, bites, and elimination on the site in other than designated elimination areas, rowdy or loud behavior from you or your pet, or from teammates, etc., all qualify as “incidents.” A nip, a growl or any type of conflict can also qualify. Remember the perception of an injury is also reportable. Report any incidents to the facility immediately, remover yourself and your pet, and then report the incident to WAGS using the Incident Report.
Always have an Incident Report Form in your WAGS Bag. (You can download a form in the Members Only Section of the website, under Step 5 or 6, “Visitation docs/forms.”)
1.Secure your animal immediately so you can manage the situation. Do not tie your animal to furniture or equipment which can easily shift. If the weather isn’t bad, you may put your pet in the car.
2.Get help for the injured person. Volunteers should never give medical aid to an injured client/patient. Facility staff, and not volunteers, should provide medical treatment to clients, even if the treatment is as simple as applying a Band-Aid.
3.End your visit.
4.Before leaving, report the incident in writing to your facility contact person so the injury can be documented in the client’s medical file. Most facilities have an accident or unusual incident report forms. You will need to fill out all the required paperwork.
5.Before you leave the facility, complete the WAGS Incident Report that you carry in your WAGS bag. (Found in the Members Only section of the website under Step 5 or 6 “Visitation docs/forms: Paper Incident Report Form”.) There will be signatures you need and you might not want to go back and get them, or the staff person may be off when you go back. You must notify a WAGS Evaluator if any unusual occurrence takes place during your visit as a WAGS Ambassador.
6.Notify a WAGS Evaluator on the day/first business day of the incident. This is very important since any incident/accident may result in an insurance claim.
7.Notify the Team Leader of the incident immediately. Submit in writing within 7 days, a detailed account of the incident including circumstances before, during and after the incident. Follow all procedures required by WAGS.
8.An Evaluator will then contact team members and/or facility personnel who witnessed the behavior/incident/accident and make a determination on a course of action.
9.If, after review of all the details, the Evaluator feels the incident requires action from the Executive Committee, the Executive Committee will vote on a course of action based upon the recommendation of the Evaluator.
5.10.2 What Should Be Reported?
1.Injury to a person (even you) or an animal.
2.High potential that an injury could have occurred either to a person, or animal even though no one was hurt at the time.
3.The perception of an accident/incident or injury.
4.Damage to property.
5.Violation of WAGS Ambassador policies and procedures.
6.Unprofessional conduct.
7.Breach of client/patient confidentiality.
8.Abuse of any patient/client or animal, or conduct detrimental to the WAGS Ambassador program, even those conducted by fellow Ambassadors, affiliates, Evaluators, and Board members.
9.Theft or removal from the premises, without proper authorization, any property of a facility, client/patient, staff or another WAGS Ambassador.
10.Unauthorized use/possession of intoxicants, narcotics, or other drugs while volunteering as a WAGS Ambassador.
11.Being unfit to volunteer due to the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol.
13.Use of WAGS Ambassador vest/logo to gain public access or otherwise misrepresenting your pet as a service animal.
Keep in mind that if you observe outright abuse of a person, you will need to call either CPS (Child Protective Services or APS (Adult Protective Services).
5.11 What Happens if My Animal Gets Too Stressed?
Give your pet a break by removing them from the stressor.
Give them a drink of water.
Take them home if they cannot recover quickly.
Advocate for your pet! It’s okay to cut a visit short if your pet is stressed.
My Pet and I Need to Have in Order to Participate in Visiting with the WAGS Ambassador Program?
Like being a good therapy animal, providing the human component of pet therapy is also an innate gift. You will often be interacting with clients in a setting that is very structured, and you have to observe certain rules of etiquette and confidentiality. Many people naturally have these skills, or they have learned them through their professions. Here are some guidelines for a successful visit for you to consider:
5.13.1
How Do I Approach a
Client / Patient?
If you are in a nursing home, you will often have to approach a client by asking them if they would like to meet your therapy animal. Never enter a room (or let your pet in), without knocking and asking permission first!! This is their home; you are a guest.
Make it personable. Rather than say, “do you want a visit with a dog/ animal?” Say, “Otis is here to visit, would you like to pet Otis?” If the person says no, then respect that! Even if facility staff try to coax a patient into interaction with your pet, be considerate and listen to the patient/client.
Even in common areas, ask permission to approach rather than letting your dog run up to someone. This is yet another thing when leash and voice control are very important.
5.13.2 Social Communication Skills
Handlers should be comfortable communicating both verbally and non-verbally with patients, clients, staff and fellow team members. Handlers should be polite and sensitive to the needs and wellbeing of all people they encounter.
Some clients you visit may have dementia. Treat them as any other person you might be visiting. They may have difficulty understanding what you are saying, but they can relate to a friendly face and smile.
Handlers should never assume anything! Treat all those that you visit, regardless of their age, as people who enjoy making a connection with others, like you and your animal. The proper way to refer to folks is that they are people first and their ailments/ disabilities are secondary, so “people who have confusion,” or “people experiencing dementia” or “the child on the Autism Spectrum” are all better than “the dementia person, or the Autistic child.” Many people have more than one issue, and people who have been injured are not necessarily affected with a brain injury.
Even people in comas have been known to hear what people in the room are saying to them. Finally, many people have hidden, invisible or undisclosed disabilities. Speak to all people as if they are your equals. Be kind, but not patronizing. Make conversation as you would with anyone. Be respectful. Ask open ended questions that require more than a one word answer.
When engaging a client in conversation, avoid asking confidential questions. If the client wishes to tell you why they are in the facility, respectfully listen and try to find topics of commonality. A great question is “Do you have (or have you had) pets? Tell me about them.” (See Chapter 6 for Conversation Tips and Starters).
You should also keep your visit neutral. Try not to make comments about politics, religion, or ethnicity, even if the client solicits your opinions. Steer the conversation away from topics that will cause conflict, controversy or arousal. A WAGS visit is not the place for these conversations.
If you disturb an item in a room, please return it to its original place. Keep aware of items on the floors and in the trash that might attract your pet. And always avoid interacting with clients who are eating. You may say something like, “We will check back with you once you are finished eating,” or “my pet is such a chow hound they would be more focused on the food than you!”
It is always a temptation for the dog/animal if there is food around. You want to protect the client/patient as much as you protect your pet/animal. If a client touches your pet, then you will need to sanitize their hands or have a staff member help with keeping them clean.
Copyright 2023 WAGS Pet Therapy of Kentucky, Inc.
Your interaction skills will depend on who and where you are visiting. School visits will be much different from nursing home visits. Handlers will have to adapt to the situation. Be sure to audit the facility before visiting. This way you can determine if a facility might be uncomfortable for you or your pet.
Always, always advocate for your pet. Always be aware of your surroundings, and always respect the personal space of all people you encounter. One crucial skill is to understand how to interact with people while they are in wheelchairs. Wheelchairs are an extension of the person. People in wheelchairs are just like you. Always ask permission to move their wheelchair and try to speak to them at eye level if possible.
Handlers need to have the trait of not just listening carefully, but to “hear” what the client/patient or staff is saying and respond in a polite, caring, respectful manner. (See Chapter 6 for Conversation Tips and Starters).
Good communication is founded in mutual respect. Being pushy, argumentative, opinionated, or prejudiced has no place in a WAGS Ambassador Team visit. If WAGS receives a complaint from a facility, client/patient, or another therapy team, the matter will be investigated and a determination made regarding the appropriateness of the team for WAGS.
5.13.3 Interacting with Facility Staff
Most people are happy to see an animal at work. However, there are times when staff members or specific people in the facility do not want to interact with your pet/animal. Always respect the wishes of any person you encounter as to whether they would like a visit with your animal.
Respect that the people working in facilities have a job to do, and do not interrupt their duties. We have found that many staff members welcome an interaction with a therapy pet and if someone seeks it, provide the staff with much needed therapy as well!
If you are not a big talker, get the person you are sharing your pet with to talk about themselves. Most people love to talk about themselves. If they are talking about themselves, that’s less talking you have to do!
Smile! Smiling puts people more at ease and lets them know you are happy to talk to them.
Please be attentive to your clients, exhibiting your engagement and interest. Keep in mind that making eye contact is a Western (American) habit, and some cultures will not make eye contact because it is considered impolite. In addition, don't comment on cultural differences unless the client broaches the subject. Don't comment on hair, clothing, skin color, dialect, or employment, etc. unless the client introduces the subject, and even then, practice polite interest without sharing your personal opinions. This is a diversity issue that touches upon race, ethnicity, gender, ability, and age.
Our visits should not be opportunities for political or socio-cultural commentary.
Maintain good posture. (Don’t sit with your arms crossed or look off in another direction.)
Be genuinely interested!
Learn the person’s name and use it in conversation.
Use open-ended questions and answers so that you elicit a longer response than just a word or two. (It will help you maintain conversation with whom you are visiting). Likewise, when answering questions, give more than a one or two word response.
Remember, the other person can tell if you are truly interested in them if you are listening more than you speak. Demonstrate that you are listening to people by nodding in response to what they have to say.
Avoid sharing too much personal information (Boundaries!!)
In nursing homes, observe photos and items placed around the room of the resident. These make good conversation starters!
Do you like dogs or cats better? Or birds, pigs, etc.?
Would you like a visit from (pet’s name) today? She’d/He’d like to come say hello if you wish.
What makes you smile?
What sorts of things do you think (pet’s name) had to learn to be able to be a therapy cat/dog?
What do you think (pet’s name) is thinking about right now?
How do you think (pet’s name) is feeling today?
What do you think the best part of the day is for (pet’s name)?
What are you looking forward to?
What do you think makes (pet’s name) happy? Sad? Upset? Excited? (Try to end on a positive).
Do you think dogs/cats get angry or mad? If so, what might they do, or how would they act? How would we know what they are feeling?
What rules do you have to follow before you can interact with (pet’s name)?
What kind of rules do you think (pet’s name) has to follow so we can come visit you here?
How old do you think (pet’s name) is?
What do you think (pet’s name) favorite toy is? Favorite treat? Favorite place to sleep?
Who was the last person you had a good conversation with?
For Children:
What grade are you in? What’s your favorite subject? Least favorite?
What is the first thing you think of in the morning?
What is something new you learned this week?
Copyright 2023 WAGS Pet Therapy of Kentucky, Inc.
What is your favorite thing to do?
If you could have any animal as a pet, what would you choose?
What do you want to do when you get older/grow up?
What is the best part of your day? The worst part?
What do you do when you are bored?
6.1 Handing off the Leash
As noted in Chapter Three, WAGS recognizes that there may be times when one needs to relinquish control of the leash due to emergency situations. WAGS has established a specific safety protocol for Handing Off the leash. Handler’s may apply to hand off the leash to another WAGS member during a visit in situations of necessity, not convenience.
WAGS defines “necessity” as a task that cannot be physically or safely accomplished by the handler while holding onto the leash of their therapy pet.
The Handing off the Leash Assessment requires that the Handler give the leash to the Evaluator or Skilled Assistant and then the animal and Handler are out of sight of each other for three (3) minutes.
The form for this application can be found on the Member’s Only section of the website under Step 6, “Visitation Docs and Forms.”
WAGS continues to have a positive impact on our community in a variety of ways. We are committed to serving our community by demonstrating the positive effect animals have on humanity.
Our outreach serves people in hospitals, senior care facilities, schools, universities, offices, courthouses, libraries, etc. We also serve marginalized populations in rehabilitation centers, therapeutic treatment centers, schools with children from impoverished neighborhoods, and adult daycare programs.
One of the most visible ways we serve our community is through our Special Events. In addition to the 100+ regularly visited facilities, we rely on members to staff these events throughout the year. Special Events require teams who are flexible, adaptable, and reliable.
Dogs should be dog-tolerant and comfortable with large crowds. Because these events are not necessarily screened in person prior to the day of the event, Ambassador teams should be prepared for any environment. Some events have hundreds of people, and some have only 2-3.
We are also able to recruit new members at many of these events, so come prepared to discuss the joys of pet therapy; what makes a therapy animal; and how to become a registered team. We rely heavily on Trained Aides at Special Events, because people have a lot of questions, and an Ambassador team can become overwhelmed with large groups wanting to visit the therapy animal(s).
Some of the events we strive to attend are community festivals and health fairs, finals weeks, summer camps, corporate well-being celebrations, animal fairs such as Bark in the Park, and we have even appeared at The Derby Festival, the State Fair, and the annual dog show. Every year we try to walk in the Frankfort Easter Parade. We make every attempt to go anywhere we are invited! These appearances are a way for us to expose WAGS to our community and exhibit the benefits of positive training.
Finally, we also have a Speaker’s Bureau and present on the health benefits of pet therapy to the community. If you are with comfortable public speaking, reach out to our Special Events chair! There is a list of these opportunities under the “Special Events” area on the website, which will direct you to a SignUp Genius listing these one-time visits. Special Event sign up is located under the “Personal Info” area of the Members’ Home Page.
Tracking volunteer hours for those activities is vital to WAGS.
Every member of WAGS has volunteer hours to enter. All time spent participating in WAGS is eligible, including non-visiting hours (membership meetings, email correspondence, committee work, grooming your pet, etc.), as well as the hours you spend actually visiting with your pet, or serving as a Trained Aide.
As an active member of WAGS, you are expected to enter these hours via the “Timesheet” link. This may be found in the Members Only sections of the website under Step 7, “TIMESHEET” or under “Personal Info” section, “Submit my time.”
7.1.1 What Hours Count?
There are visiting and non-visiting hours that count. You may count your travel time to get to visits; attendance at WAGS 101; membership meetings; continuing education, etc.
We use this information in so many ways. It helps us to see a trend of what types of facilities are requesting, and getting our services, and it lets us see if there are any ares in the community that may not know about what WAGS does.
It helps us understand if the training, and support that we offer our members is doing what it should. It also gives us information that we need when we are applying for grants and fundraising opportunities. It affirms the need for our work, and it allows us to recognize our volunteers for all the wonderful work they do!
7.3 Volunteer Recognition
WAGS knows that without the devotion and hard work of our volunteers, there would be no WAGS. The officers, board members, committee chairs, evaluators, skilled assistants, team leaders and team members are ALL needed for WAGS to be able to fulfill its mission. We take every opportunity to recognize the accomplishments and hard work of each of our members.
In tracking hours, we ask that you submit them annually. We keep track of how many hours are accrued each year for each member, as well as each member’s cumulative total hours.
Though there is truly no way that we can thank our members enough, we try to faithfully let each of you know how important you are and how much we appreciate your work. Social gatherings are one of the ways we can do that.
Each year in the spring we have our Volunteer Appreciation Banquet. At that time, we recognize each of our members who have contributed to the WAGS program throughout the year. We share with all the members the specifics of the time donated, special service given, and above and beyond performance of our dedicated volunteers.
To underscore the importance of volunteering and celebrate our members’ dedication, WAGS awards a “Volunteer of the Year” award each year, which is selected by the membership.
Don’t wait until the last minute to renew! Due to the increased number of teams with the same expiration date, we cannot guarantee an Express Renewal if we do not have your renewal packet 60 days before your expiration date.
Registration
You have learned teams MUST renew their WAGS Ambassador registration every two (2) years. There are two ways to do this: Express Renewal (ER) or reevaluation through the standard WAGS Ambassador Evaluation process.
8.1 What is Express Renewal and How Do I
Qualify for It?
Express Renewal (ER) is for currently registered teams who are actively visiting.
It is comprised of an observed visit, conducted by an Evaluator or Skilled Assistant (E/SA) who has been trained to evaluate the team. Express Renewal serves in lieu of the WAGS Ambassador Hands-On Evaluation.
Copyright 2023 WAGS Pet Therapy of Kentucky, Inc.
ERs can be completed only if the Ambassador team is maintaining their current ranking (Level) and equipment requirements (i.e. head collar, carried, etc.), with no changes. When completing the renewal packet, be sure to designate the ER option. In order to remain an active visiting WAGS team, you must re-register every two years. Don’t expect to automatically pass; you must stay current with your training!
We will make every effort possible to do your ER at your desired location, but there may be times we will need to schedule elsewhere.
Continuing Education (CE) is required every 6 months (or 2 times per year). For each year, one CE credit must be hands-on training with your pet and one must be for the handler’s additional education. A total of four (4) CE credits will be needed prior to undergoing an ER. You will also need to have had at least 10 visits/year.
You will be notified of your registration expiration six (6) months prior to the expiration. This gives you ample time to complete your renewal. There will be NO extension unless there is a medical emergency issue, human or pet, after you have already scheduled your Express Renewal.
Due to the volume of ERs, if any of the information provided is not complete or timely in submission (60 days) is not met, WAGS may not be able to perform your ER by your expiration date. Should this happen, then you and your pet will be required to renew by the standard hands-on evaluation. Once your registration has expired you will not be able to do visits until you have completed the standard hands-on evaluation.
We strongly encourage you to renew in plenty of time to avoid a lapse with your insurance coverage and ability to do visits.
For more information on renewals, please visit the Members Only section of the website under Step 8 where you will find the “Team Renewal Packet.”
WAGS offers opportunities for CE after the membership meetings. You may get the hands-on training CEs with your pet when the E/SAs offer training seminars after membership meetings.
Likewise, WAGS offers opportunities for the other CEs you need when speakers come in to offer talks on pertinent issues, such as the dog flu, pet CPR, etc.
You can also earn CEs with other trainers. If you do agility with your dog, scent/nose work, or take an advanced obedience class, you may use that as your CE for hands-on with your pet. You will just need to provide a certificate of completion when you are filling out your renewal application. You can count up to 25 hours of dog training classes a year as non-visiting hours. Other options may be taking an online course, reading a book related to the visits you do with you dog/pet, educational videos, etc. Be sure to keep track!
Chapter Nine
Other Ways To Share Your Talents
9.0 Share Your Talent
WAGS can always use folks to serve on committees, as well as the board positions. Once you complete WAGS 101 you are eligible to serve as a Trained Aide to assist teams visiting.
There are so many ways to be a part of WAGS!
On the website in the Members Only section under Step 9 you can fill out a “Volunteer Form” to begin the process of sharing your talents.
Chapter Ten
10.0 Considerations
Congratulations! Now that you have achieved your goal of becoming a WAGS Ambassador Team, what do you need to know about moving forward and taking part in visitation?
There are a few things you will need to do to enjoy your visits, stay in compliance with WAGS’ Visitation Policies and prepare yourself for a successful renewal in 2 years.
First, let’s address the fun part that is pet therapy. How can you maintain membership in good standing and easily renew in 2 years?
10.0.1 I. Selection of a facility to visit
A.Audit
i.Contact the Team Leader of the facility you would like to prescreen and set up a day/time to go on a visit with the established team without your pet. (Facilities and Team Leaders can be found on the website in the Members Only section under Step 6 which also includes instructions for contacting the facility coordinators).
ii.Look at all the variables on that visit to make sure it is good fit for both you and your pet.
a.Time and day of the visit?
*Do you prefer day or evening visits?
*Do you prefer weekday or weekend visits?
b.How far away from your home and how much driving is required? Will you encounter rush hour traffic for this visit and are you comfortable with that?
c.How often does this facility want a visit?
d.Parking arrangements?
e.How much walking is involved?
f.Length of visit?
g.Floor surfaces?
h.Temperature of the environment?
i.Noise level?
j.Energy/activity level of the clients?
k.Energy level of other team members?
l.If there is a different species on the visit other than that of your pet do you know how well your pet will react to that?
m.Group setting or one-on-one and which is best for your pet?
n.Any extra training and requirements for this visit?
1.Is there a need for special behaviors, such as a retrieve command, for this visit?
2.Is there special training such as exposure to life support equipment or safety procedure and alerts?
3.Use of elevators?
4.Any extra vaccines required for you and/or your pet?
B. If you notice that after a time your pet no longer enjoys visits to a facility, you can try something new. You should notify the team leader/facility if you are the only one visiting that location. You should also notify the facility chair and/or change your visitation status on the website under the Members Only section under Step 6, “add/ drop facility.”
10.0.2 II. What do I need to do to stay in compliance with WAGS’ policies & procedures and keep the insurance coverage?
A.Be a member in good standing, current on dues and any applicable fees.
B.Team registration must be current.
C.Vaccinations for you and your pet must be current.
ii.Use topical flea treatment at least 48 hours before visit.
F.Follow the restrictions and qualifications of your registration.
i.Pet’s equipment as far as collars, harnesses and head collars are concerned.
ii.Are you restricted from visiting with certain populations (i.e. medically fragile, children, etc.)?
iii.Are you restricted from visiting with other dogs/ teams?
G.Wear proper ID (Badge, WAGS logo wear).
H.Arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled visit time.
I.Leave within 15 minutes of your scheduled end time for visit.
J.Have a 4 foot leash for your pet.
K.WAGS bag properly stocked with required essential and approved optional items.
L.Have contact information for the facility and/or Team Leader.
M.Is the facility where you are visiting an approved WAGS facility or special event?
N.You may have multiple animals registered for therapy but you can only visit with one pet at a time.
O.Only you can handle your registered pet on a visit (unless you have applied for permission to hand off the leash).
P.If you need to use the restroom, take your pet with you. (It’s a good idea to let people know you are bringing a pet into the restroom so there are no surprises for other people in the restroom.)
Q.Non-WAGS people cannot attend the visit without prior facility approval.
R.If your pet is on medication for illness (not a daily maintenance med such as thyroid) have you cancelled your visit with the Team Leader and/or facility if you are the only visiting team at this location?
S.If your pet has an open wound or rash or has signs of not feeling well, such as diarrhea or a cough, have you cancelled your visit as identified above in “R?” If your pet shows signs of fatigue or stress have you stopped your visit or given your pet time to rest before returning? (Remember you are not required to stay for a full hour. Please remember 2 hours should be the maximum limit of any visitation.)
T.Do you recognize signs of stress in your pet such as:
i.Panting
ii.Shaking
iii.Blinking
iv.Avoidance
v.Tongue flicks
vi.Non-compliance with basic cues
vii.Refuses to take treats when pet normally takes treats
viii.Excessive shedding or dandruff
ix.Other?
U.Track your volunteer hours (Find this on the website in the Members Only section under Step 7 “Timesheet” OR under Personal Info: “Submit my Time”).
V.Participate in continuing education (CEs). Two are required per year for renewal (one handler + pet for skills; one handler education).
W.Be sure to give your pet time to eliminate before your visit and at frequent intervals if it is a longer visit or event.
X.Be sure to notify the facility Team Leader if you add/drop a visit. You can find the link for this on the website in the Members Only section under Step 6. 132
Y.Be familiar with the unusual occurrence/incident report form and how to fill it out to send to Lead Evaluator when appropriate.
i.An unusual occurrence can be anything from spilling something, knocking something over, or having a client misunderstand who you are and what is going on during a visit. It does not have to be an actual injury. It may be a perceived injury to a person.
Z.Refresh your memory on conversation starters, appropriate topics and thing’s to avoid talking about before you go on a visit. Be interested and interesting but don’t ask personal questions such as “Why are you here?” Do not accept personal gifts from those you visit.
Remember: We do not solicit facilities but rather have the facility contact us if they want a WAGS visit. There is a form on the public website page www.kywags.org for facilities to request a visit.
10.0.3 III. Renewals, options and documentation
A.Renewals
i.All teams must have their registration renewed every 2 years
ii.Renewal protocols
a.Fill out the Ambassador team renewal forms. These may be found on the website in the Members Only section under Step 8 “Complete Renewal Packet” and “Health Screening form” and submit as directed.
b.Application should include the rabies certificate with the manufacturer and lot # of the serum and the expiration date.
c.Fecal exam needs to be by flotation.
d.Do NOT wait until the last minute to do this. You may renew up to 6 months before your registration expires. Your new expiration date will be 2 years from the previous expiration date, not 2 years from when you actually renewed.
e.Vet exams are good for 6 months so schedule your exam within the time frame of when you intend to renew.
f.A Mentored Visit is normally not required for a renewal. There are rarely exceptions. If we notice the pet is not seeming to enjoy visiting or we have questions, we may request a MV be completed.
g.If you let your membership lapse, but your registration is still in force, you may NOT visit as a WAGS team or with other WAGS teams.
h.A standard hands-on renewal is described as the same process as a standard hands-on initial evaluation on a scheduled evaluation day.
i.As with all standard evaluations and standard renewals, paperwork must be in at least 10 days before the evaluations are scheduled and no more than 30 days.
j.Standard renewals will be scheduled as with all evaluations, on a first come, first served basis.
k.To qualify for a renewal you need to have completed 2 CE units each year. One CE must involve actually working with your pet in a training or WAGS provided CE involving your pet. The other can be of an educational unit for the handler only, such as a book, video or lecture.During a standard renewal, your score level can change, even if in the past you were scored a 3.
l.You can also request special evaluation between expiration dates if you want to change equipment required; to work towards a higher level ranking, or have a restriction or qualification removed. If you do not pass during this special evaluation for change of status, you will maintain your previous level as long as a NA action does not take place, such as biting or attacking the neutral dog.
m.Be updated on requirements as far as online training, infection control, approved equipment, and visitation protocols. This may also include sensitivity training and online written tests for new protocols, as well as annual training updates.
a.Standard Renewal Evaluation (as described above in section ii).
b.Express Renewal (ER)
1.Where?
i.At a facility where you normally visit.
ii.At a facility that is convenient for the evaluator if your regular visit is quite a distance from, or at a time when the evaluator cannot accommodate.
2.When?
i.May take place any time up to 6 months before expiration of registration.
ii.Request at least 60 days, preferably more, before you want to schedule ER to allow an E/SA to be found who can accommodate you. It is especially important to give lots of advanced notice if you only visit once a month.
3.How?
i.Fill out forms for renewal and submit to the Evaluation Scheduler with all required paperwork, including rabies certificate.
4.Requirements and Documentation
i.Requirements
a.Must have completed 10 visits/special events each year of registration.
b.Must have completed 2 CEs each year of registration.
c.Must have submitted completed and correct application to Evaluation Scheduler.
ii.Documentation
a.List location and dates of 10 visits for each year of registration.
b.List dates and information on the 2 CEs per year with at least one/year being a working CE with your pet. The other can be educational CE for the handler.
c.Rabies certificate must have manufacturer and lot # of the serum and the expiration date on the certificate.
d.Fecal should be a flotation fecal exam and must be negative for parasites.
If you are a fairly new team or a team that has not visited for a while, it will be helpful fo read this over before you start visiting so that you are comfortable with your new, or renewed status and understand what is required of a registered Ambassador Team.
Pet therapy is so rewarding but to make it very comfortable for you and your pet, it is always good to know how to go about this important work to make if more enjoyable and eliminate as much stress and worry as possible about what you should and should not be do on visits.
With time and experience these things will become second nature to you and your pet and you will be able to bring so much joy and comfort to all those you serve as a WAGS Ambassador Team. Being prepared and knowledgable will make it even more fun and fulfilling.
Thank YOU for embarking on this wonderful journey and for sharing your pet with those who want and need our companionship.
10.1 Endings and Beginnings…
Beginnings and Endings
10.1.1 Endings….
You have been working for several years now with your wonderful pet, and have probably been through several renewal cycles. The work you and your pet have been doing is so appreciated by those you have met and rewarding for you that you know you want to continue for many years to come. But now you are faced with a dilemma that perhaps you were not expecting or you expected to happen, but not so soon.
Your Ambassador teammate is a senior citizen and showing signs of slowing down. Maybe some ailments associated with age have developed. Maybe your pet has sustained an injury or developed an illness that may make retirement from visiting necessary. What is your next step? How do you know when the time is right to retire your pet? Whom do you consult to be sure you are making the right decision?
WAGS dedicates this chapter to all those amazing animals that helped make WAGS what it is today Their lives are never long enough!
10.1.2 Retiring Your Pet
We all know that our time with our pets is not nearly long enough. At least our brains know that, but sometimes our hearts don’t want to think about it. We may even think that planning ahead for this day is a form of betrayal or giving up. But the truth is that we must, first and foremost be advocates for our pets. Their needs must come first. One of the best gifts we can give to our pets, to honor them for their years of loyalty and service, is to allow them to enjoy their senior years.
Preparing for their eventual retirement allows us to slowly ease our pets into this stage. Most pets will miss the outings, that special time with us, and the love and attention they receive while visiting. A retirement plan allows then them time to adjust and to get used to their next stage of life.
Copyright 2023 WAGS Pet Therapy of Kentucky, Inc.
It also gives us the time to consider whether we want to continue with this work, and if so, gives us the time to prepare the next generation for pet visitation in the WAGS Ambassador Program.
WAGS Wisdom: Be sure to watch your pet for signs they are no longer enjoying visits. Often our animal will do what we want despite not enjoying the work. Be your pet’s advocate, ALWAYS!
10.1.3 When is it Time to Retire?
For each of us there may be a different answer to this question. Some of us will be blessed with 10 years or maybe even more with our pet. Some of us may only have two or three years. Some of us will have time to put a plan into action, but some of us will have to make this decision without much warning. How can we plan and be prepared for the inevitable time when we will need to retire our pet, or sadly say goodbye?
10.1.4 Knowing When to Say Enough
Knowing when to retire your pet can be a tough decision, but not one you have to face alone. WAGS will be there to help you know when to make this call. You can contact any of the Evaluators and/or Skilled Assistants as well as dog trainers, and your vet to help.
If your pet has become injured or ill, please consult with your veterinarian to determine if this illness or injury is permanent or one that is temporary which would allow your pet to return to visiting after recuperation and/or rehabilitation. If it is transitional or temporary, then follow the course set forth by your veterinarian with plenty time off to recuperate. Start possible exercises and/or treatments that will affect a complete reversal of the debilitation.
When the course of care set forth by your veterinarian has been completed and your teammate is released, please ease them slowly back into therapy work. Your pet will need to slowly increase their stamina and ability to focus. Watch carefully for any reluctance to participate or signs of fatigue on a visit. Let your pet tell you when she or he needs to stop and rest.
At any stage of your pet’s life, if you notice them becoming more reluctant to participate in visits or an increase in stress signals, it may be time to retire them regardless of health or injury status. WAGS evaluators can talk to you about when to make the decision for your individual pet.
If the injury or illness will prevent your teammate from returning to therapy work, then there is a different path to follow. First, be sure you meet the real needs of your retiring pet. Make certain they get the care they need. If they sufficiently recover but are still unable to visit, recognize that your pet is used to working and may miss it. Find some things that you can do with your pet which are not too taxing but meet their needs to interact with the public.
To All Those Pets and People Who Have Touched Our Lives and the Lives of So May Others……
The Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that’s been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and are old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days gone by. The animals are happy and content [except] for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them who had to be left behind. They all run and play together but the day comes when one of them suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes reinvent; his eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life, but never absent from your heart.
Perhaps you already know you want to continue the legacy of your first therapy pet by visiting with a new pet. If you are lucky enough to have time to start this process while still visiting with your current pet, the transition can be must easier for all those involved. The senior pet can gradually retire doing only visits that he/she really enjoys and can easily navigate. The junior pet can start out slowly and gradually increase the number of visits as focus, stamina, and experience improve.
The process of training, evaluating and registering a new teammate takes time. If you know you will want to continue with a new pet after retiring your current pet, try to allow at least two years to prepare the newcomer for this work, especially if you plan on getting a puppy, kitten or very young pet, excluding pocket pets. Plan accordingly. Take into consideration how long you think that your current teammate will have the desire and health to participate in pet therapy and allow for a gradual transition.
10.2.2 The Passing of Your Pet
In the circumstances that your pet passes unexpectedly before retiring them, this creates a different situation. If you have decided to continue with pet therapy you will need to find another pet to become your teammate. There are several paths available to you….
WAGS Wisdom: Go back to Chapter Two and re-read Nancy Tanner’s writing about “The Misunderstanding of Time,” on page 45.
One path would be to see if a friend or fellow WAGS member has a pet they would be willing to share with you and allow you to work with as an Ambassador team member. You can become a registered handler with a pet that is not yours as long as you have the pet owner’s permission and have known the animal for at least 6 months.
You will need to go through an evaluation with that pet and have a successful MV. You would not need to take WAGS 101 over, as you are already a trained handler and you would just need to be evaluated with the different pet.
Another path would be to find a pet of your own and begin the training process with that pet. Selection of a pet for therapy work should be given a lot of thought and research. Each dog/pet is an individual with different temperaments that may or may not enjoy therapy visits.
Consider all the thing that a therapy pet needs to be able to do and wants to do. You can reach out to a WAGS evaluator, trainer or breeder that you trust to advise you and help you screen candidates for your next therapy pet. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Of course, there are no guarantees, but thought, research and advice increases the odds that your selection will be the right one.
Whether you choose to get a young pet or a more mature one the path is still the same. First build a strong and trusting relationship then incorporate basic training and a lot of socialization. Next, undergo advanced training such as a therapy dog preparation class.
Finally go through the evaluation process to determine whether this pet has the temperament, skills and desire to be your teammate in pet therapy.
Remember, there’s no need to rush into the process of getting and training a new therapy pet after your pet has passed. You may need time to adjust to having to retire your pet on short notice, or grieve the loss of your teammate. In these situations, it is possible that you may even need to step away for a time to recover. You may want to join a pet loss group or seek counseling. Our pets truly are members of our family and as such we need to be allowed to heal from that loss. Give yourself all the time you need and do not push forward too soon.
Once you feel ready to participate again, consider all the ways to stay involved with pet therapy and be involved in committee work, or even run for office. WAGS values all its members and their contributions.
10.3 Resources for Dealing with the Loss
A lot of situations and circumstances have been discussed here. Resources have been suggested, such as your veterinarian, trusted trainer or breeder, WAGS evaluators, and fellow WAGS members. All can help you get back on the path and help you to continue your work in pet therapy. They can help you to “Start Over.”
Additional grief resources may be found on the website in the Members Only section under “Training Resources; WAGS Library: Resources: Grief Resources List.”
Q: How old does my dog have to be before we can test to become a team?
A: 18 months minimum. WAGS recommends working with and training your pet as soon as you get your pet and continuing to work with your pet even after becoming a team. WAGS also encourages you to bring you pet to meetings even if the pet is too young to go through the evaluation, as part of the training process and your pet’s socialization.
Q: How old does my cat need to be for testing as a team?
A: 18 months
Q: How old does my guinea pig need to be for testing as a team?
A: All “pocket pets” such as guinea pigs, rats, rabbits, etc., must be at least 6 months old. Birds must have lived with the handler for at least one year.
Q: Why do I have to have a vet exam prior to testing with my pet instead of getting it once we know we have passed the test? It’s expensive.
A: WAGS requires the vet exam prior to testing to ensure that your pet is healthy enough to participate in the stress and activity of the evaluation as well as actual visits. Fecal exams are required to ensure that your pet does not have any illnesses it could pass on to any other pets participating in the evaluation. Also, we will not evaluate an animal that the vet has deemed obese.
WAGS does provide a limited number of scholarships to cover memberships or evaluation insurance fees on an as need basis. Scholarships, however do not cover the cost of veterinarian fees.
Q: Why must I use a 4-foot leash on my pet instead of a regular 6 foot leash?
A: A 4-foot leash allows for more control. If you consider how long your arm is and then add a 4 foot leash, if you let your dog go to the end of the leash they are far away from you. A 6-foot leash would make the distance worse. All of it has to do with control. Not everyone will have their dog in a heel position at all times, so we are playing it safe by keeping the leash at 4-foot.
Q: What is the midline?
A: If you draw a line vertically down your own body, dividing your left side from your right, this is the midline. Should your dog cross this midline during the meet and greet exercise, you will receive a Not Ready (NR).
Q: What happens to my payment if I do not pass the evaluation?
A: WAGS will not cash the check payment unless the team passes the evaluation and only after the team has passed both its evaluation and Mentored Visit (MV). If the team scores a Not Ready (NR) during the evaluation, the team member can choose to either have WAGS hold the check for evaluation at a later date or have the check returned to them.
If the team scores Not Appropriate (NA), the check will be returned to the member as the pet is not appropriate for participating in pet therapy work.
If payment has been made via PayPal and the the team scores a NR and does not wish to re-evaluate or the team scores a NA, the WAGS treasurer will send a check to the member.
Q: Why do I have to undergo a two-part evaluation? If my pet and I passed the hands-on evaluation, should this not be enough?
A: WAGS requires the two-part evaluation for multiple reasons. The regular hands-on evaluation is conducted in a controlled environment for the safety of the pet and everyone involved. It would not be appropriate or fair for your pet to put an untested pet into an environment around children, adults, elderly or frail individuals. The second part of the evaluation, the Mentored Visit (MV), allows WAGS to see how the team does in an actual facility prior to their visiting on their own. This also allows the handler to see what an actual visit would entail while having an Evaluator/Skilled Assistant present to guide the team, address any questions and handle any potential problems.
Q: What happens if I don’t complete my MV within 6 months after passing the evaluation?
A: A MV must be completed within 6 months or the team must undergo a new evaluation, complete with new paperwork and veterinarian examination.
Q: How can I get training for my dog?
A: WAGS provides a list of approved trainers in the Members Only section of the website. Scroll down the Members’ Home Page to “Training Resources; Approved Trainers.”
Q: Once I have passed the evaluation with my pet, can I take my pet with me to stores, restaurants and other facilities?
A: NO! Becoming a registered therapy team does NOT allow your pet access to stores, restaurants or other facilities unless the facility allows all pets. A therapy dog is NOT a service dog and does not have the same legal protections. WAGS Ambassador pets are only to wear WAGS attire, such as vests or equipment with other WAGS identifying markings, during a WAGS visit. WAGS teams are covered under WAGS’ liability insurance ONLY when on WAGS approved visits. Violation of this requirement can result in revocation of pet ambassador privileges. Please see Chapter One for more information on therapy animals v. service animals.
Q: I don’t have an animal/pet, how can I be involved with WAGS?
A: There are many, many ways to be involved with WAGS without a pet. After successfully completing the WAGS 101 class and test discussion, (following the completion of joining and orientation), one has met the criteria to be a Trained Aide (TA). Also, you may assist on various committees. See the website under the Members Only section, Step 9 to fill out a “volunteer form.” Also see Section 1.13 on page 27 on how you may “borrow” an animal that you know.
Q: How do I “borrow” an animal?
A: You must know the animal for six (6) months, have the written permission of the pet’s owner, and have worked with the animal.
Q: I want to be able to bring my dog to work with me. How does that work?
A: It does not. If you are getting reimbursed (paid) for your time, it is no longer volunteer work; therefore, you and your pet are not covered by WAGS’ liability insurance. It is totally on you!
A: Trained Aides help visiting Ambassador teams with their visits. They may assist in carrying the team’s WAGS bag, help with towels to place on beds or laps of patients, help with situations the pet encounters in the room of the person being visited, help with hand sanitizer, etc.
Q: What does auditing a facility mean?
A: You are required to audit a facility you think you want to visit, This visit is WITHOUT your pet. This allows you the opportunity to experience the dynamics of the facility and whether or not it would be a good fit for you and your pet. You do not need to have passed the evaluation to do an audit of a facility.
Q: How do I go about setting up an audit?
A: Contact the team leader of the facility/visit you want to audit. They will let you know when/where to meet when you audit. Information on facilities and team leaders may be found on the website in the Members Only section under Visiting Info: Facilities needing teams and Step 6 “Available list of facilities to audit.”
Q: What is a Team Leader? What is required?
A: Team Leaders are the main liaisons between the facility contact people and the WAGS teams that visit the facility. There may be four or five WAGS teams who visit one site. One of these will be assigned as a Team Leader.
10.4.2 Infectious Disease Protocols
Q: What are infectious disease protocols?
A: The most up-to-date information on these protocols may be found on the website in the Members Only section home page.
Copyright 2023 WAGS Pet Therapy of Kentucky, Inc.
10.4.3 Express Renewals / Renewals
Q: Why must I be re-evaluated every two years if my pet and I have already passed the initial evaluation?
A: WAGS wants to ensure the teams are continuing to follow proper procedures during visits, and the teams are participating in ongoing training and the pet is healthy. Also, the re-evaluaton allows an outsider’s view of how the pet is enjoying the visits. Sometimes, as pet owners, we are not aware our pet is no longer enjoying therapy because we want to continue visiting.
Q: What is the difference between an ER and a renewal?
A: Teams are required to undergo a re-evaluation process every two years. To complete an ER (Express Renewal, the team must be actively visiting and have at least 10 visits/year for a total of 20 visits and have completed 2 continuing education classes (CE) each year, one with your pet and one without your pet, for a total of 4 CE credits). ERs are appropriate if the team wishes to remain at its current level and equipment / qualification requirements. If, for any reason, a team had not met the requirements for an ER (such as not enough visits or not enough CE credits), the team must renew through the standard hands-on evaluation process.
Also, a team may wish to renew through the standard hands-on evaluation process if they wish to change levels or change equipment. When completing the renewal packet, indicate whether you wish to undergo an ER or standard evaluation.
Q: How far ahead do I need to prepare for my renewal?
A: Your renewal application must be submitted at least 60 days prior to your registration expiration date. See page 124 for more information.
Q: How is an Express Renewal conducted?
A: For an ER, an Evaluator or Skilled Assistant will attend and observe the team on one of its regular visits. We make every effort to do it at one of your regular visits, but there may be times we ask you complete your ER at another location.
Q: How do I find out how many continuing education (CE) credits I have?
A: WAGS members should keep track of their continuing education credits themselves. WAGS provides opportunities to obtain
continuing education credits after each membership meeting, If members are unable to attend meetings, continuing education credits may be obtained at outside training facilities (examples include obedience, agility, rally, pet first aid, etc.). Keep a record of any class attended and obtain certification of completion.
This may also be submitted via the “Timesheet” on the website under the Members Only section; Step 7, or under Personal Info, “Submit my Time.”
Q: What if I do not have enough CEs for renewal?
A: A WAGS team that does not have enough CE credits when its time for renewal, (2 CEs each year; one with your pet and one without, for a total of 4 CEs), can undergo the standard hands-on evaluation, but cannot undergo an Express Renewal.
Q: What if I do not have enough visits?
A: A WAGS team that does not have the required minimum number of visits when it is up for re-evaluation (10 visits/year for a total of 20 visits) can undergo the standard hands-on evaluation, but cannot undergo an ER.
Q: If I am registered with more than one therapy animal, such as 3 dogs, do I just need to have 10 visits per year for a total of 20 visits when I renew all of my animals?
A: No. To qualify for an ER, you must have made a minimum of 10 visits with each of your therapy animals; including having continuing education with each of them.
Q: Why do I have to have continuing education if I am regularly visiting with my pet?
A: WAGS wants to ensure that handlers are continuing to work with their pet. Visits alone do not ensure that a pet/handler continue to have all the skills required by WAGS for the team to be an Ambassador team. A team may not encounter all of the requirements on each visit and can quickly get rusty in a particular area. Also, WAGS believes it is beneficial to your pet to continue training as it helps the pet’s health and strengthens the bond between the handler and the pet, which helps make a better pet therapy team.
Q: Why do I have to be evaluated every 2 years?
A: We need to make sure your pet is still enjoying the visits, and on good behavior for their visits. We like to observe your handling of your pet in a setting you are visiting to make sure all is going well. This helps with our insurance liability. Many things can change health-wise in two years’ time and sometimes it helps for a trained observer to interpret the visits.
Q: How do I get my renewal application?
A: When it’s time for renewal, you will be sent an email with the renewal application. Remember you must get your application in at least 60 days prior to renewal date needed. You may also access the renewal application on the website in the Members Only section under Step 8, “Compete Renewal Packet” and “Health Screening form.”
10.4.4 Children as WAGS Ambassadors
Q: Can my child participate in therapy visits?
A: Yes! Your child must be at least 12 years old. As a parent/guardian/ caregiver, you must sign the release form. This form may be found in the Members Only section of the website under Step 2; All Forms related to 101; Under 18 release form.
Additionally, both you and your child need to take WAGS 101. You will accompany your child on visits so its a good idea for you to evaluate with the pet as well as your child so that you may hold the leash of the pet when on a visit.
Minors 12-18 years old may participate but there are certain restrictions and requirements in addition to the requirements for being evaluated.
WAGS Ambassador Team: If a child is between the ages of 12-18 and wants to participate as an Ambassador Team, their parent/legal guardian must be a member in good standing with WAGS and the parent/legal guardian must provide written permission for the child to participate.
Both the parent/legal guardian and the child must attend WAGS 101 and get a passing score of at least 80% on the test.
The child will then be eligible to take the WAGS Ambassador handson evaluation and should receive a level score of 1, 2, or 3. They must also successfully complete a MV. (It is helpful if the parent/guardian also evaluates with the pet.)
After all that has been completed, they may visit with their parent/ legal guardian in WAGS approved facilities that allow children under the age of 18 and they may participate in WAGS activities that allow children.
Note: It is recommended that the parent/legal guardian accompanying the child should also be a registered WAGS Ambassador Team; which means going through the hands-on evaluation with the animal.
On a visit NOT as a handler but as a Trained Aide, minors between the ages of 12 and 18 may participate with a WAGS Ambassador Team on a visit or WAGS activity as a Trained Aide.
Q: What is a Trained Aide?
A: A Trained Aide (TA) is a person who is a WAGS member, has attended orientation and taken WAGS 101 and received a passing score of at least 80% on the written open book/discussion test. A child must have written parental/legal guardian consent to do so. The facility or the activity must be one that is approved for minors.
10.4.5 Miscellaneous
Q: What happens if I let my membership lapse?
A: If you allow your membership to lapse, please be aware that you may no longer visit or represent our organization. This is an issue of liability and one that we would address though legal means. Just as you cannot gain access with your pet to facilities or businesses with your WAGS registration as a “service” animal, you cannot present yourself as a WAGS member unless you are up to date on all requirements for membership. You will need to pay the late fee discussed in the Orientation Chapter One to become a member in good standing again.
Q: I just joined WAGS. I have not evaluated with my pet yet, may I still represent WAGS at a booth or special event?
A: You may represent WAGS at one of our booths or events if you have successfully completed WAGS 101 with a passing open book written test score of at least 80%; however you cannot bring your
animal if you have not successfully completed the hands-on evaluation and mentored visit with your pet.
Q: Can I join WAGS if I don’t have a pet?
A: YES! There are many opportunities in WAGS for service that do not require you to have a pet/therapy animal. Check the website in the Members Only section, Step 9, Share your Talents and fill out the “Volunteer Form” to check out the opportunities.
Q: Can I “borrow” someone else’s animal so I can do visits?
A: YES! You may “borrow” a friend, family or neighbor’s pet. You must know the animal for six (6) months; have written permission of the pet’s owner and have worked with the animal.
Q: When are dues due?
A: Dues are payable each year in the month in which you joined WAGS. These may be paid through the WAGS website, in person at a meeting, or mailed to the postal address.
Q: How do I sign up for the WAGS 101 Training Class?
A: To sign up, go to the Members Only section of the website; Step 2, “Apply for 101 Class.” You must sign up at least 10 days in advance of the class. You will receive an email with the link to take the pre-test to be admitted to the 101 class. The open book test requires a score of at least 80%.
Q: Why is it forbidden to sit on the floor with my dog at membership meetings?
A: When one is sitting on the floor with their dog, it’s difficult to maintain control, and/or jump up should there be any issue between dogs attending the meeting. It becomes a safety issue.
Q: How often is WAGS 101 Offered?
A: WAGS 101 is offered in March, June, September, and November after membership meetings. Evening 101 classes are generally offered in February, May, August and November.
Q: How often are evaluations offered?
A: Evaluations are offered in January, April, July and October, with limited evening offerings in March, and September. All evaluations are scheduled on a first come, first served basis.
1.What length of leash should you use for visitation?
2.True or False? The appropriate time to arrive for a visit that is from 6:00p-7:00p is 6:00p.
3.True of False? Service/assistance dogs have access to any place their human may go. Therapy dogs only have access to places (where dogs are not allowed) when on a prior approved therapy visit.
4.Name 3 stress signals that you should recognize in your dog.
5.True or False? When on a visit it is okay to ask the patient why they are there.
6.True or False? It is okay to put monthly flea treatment products on right before a visit.
7.The client you are visiting at a skilled nursing facility wants to pet your animal. While she is petting your animal, you notice the tags on your pet’s collar accidentally caused a small scratch on the client’s arm and it begins to bleed. What should you do?
8.What 3 things qualify you to be able to renew using Express Renewal?
9.List the 4 steps you must complete to be eligible to take the WAGS Ambassador Evaluation.
10.Describe the expected behavior and equipment protocols for WAGS members attending monthly meetings with their pets.
11.How often must teams be re-evaluated to maintain their registration?
12.True or False? If a patient is in isolation you can take your pet into visit as long as you wipe their coat and paws off after the visit.
13.You did not successfully complete your hands-on evaluation. What should you do?
14.True or False? Your pet has an open sore, and the vet has given you antibiotics to give you pet and/or ointment to apply to the wound. You have a visit coming up. It’s okay to do the visit as long as you cover the wound with some type of bandage.
15.How many animals may you register as therapy animals?
16.May you be registered with an animal that you do not personally own?
17.What are the age requirements for dogs and cats, and how long should you have known the animal?
18.You are visiting a skilled nursing facility with your pet. After your first visit you notice your pet left sweaty paw prints on the floor on your way out. During the second visit, your pet panted with its mouth very wide open, pupils were somewhat dilated, and upon leaving the patient, wanted to head towards the exit door. On the next visit your pet had to be encouraged to get out of the car and was reticent about entering the facility. What should you do?
19.True or False? When you need to use the restroom on a visit, it is okay to have someone watch your dog/pet for you while you are in the restroom.
20.True or False? You must include the rabies vaccine lot #, serial #, manufacturer and expiration date in your registration packet.
21.True or False? You are 10 minutes late for a visit. You may still make your visit without consulting with either your Team Leader or the facility contact person.
22.True or False? If your animal is obese, you may NOT take the WAGS Ambassador Evaluation.
23.What if I can’t make a visit; what should I do?
24.True or False? When applying to take your WAGS Ambassador Evaluation, you must submit your paperwork at least 10 days prior to the evaluation date.
25.Describe a meet and greet between animals prior to a visit.
26.Why do I need to track my volunteer hours, and which hours may I include?
27.True or False? Because of the danger of a patient being pulled down, only dogs that have excellent leash walking skills can be handed over to patients for walking, while you should be watching closely from a distance of not more than 8 feet at all times.
28.At what age may children visit without a parent/guardian/caretaker?
29.How old must a child be to be evaluated as a WAGS Ambassador team or to work as a Trained Aide?
30.How many pets may you handle on a visit?
Copyright 2023 WAGS Pet Therapy of Kentucky, Inc.
11.0 References
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Black, Darren. “How to Tell If Your Rat Is Stressed? Signs of Stress in Rats.” Animal Knowhow, 28 Sept. 2021, animalknowhow.com/how-to-tell-ifyour-rat-is-stressed-signs-of-stress-in-rats/
“Can CBD for Cats Help with Calming?” Paw Cbd, www.pawcbd.com/blog/ post/how-to-identify-and-address-signs-of-stress-in-cats. Accessed 22 May 2023.
Coren, S. (2002). The Pawprints of History. NY: The Free Press.
Delta Society. (2004). Team Training Manual. Delta Society.
Howie, A. (2015). Teaming With Your Therapy Dog. (New Directions in the Human-Animal Bond). University Press.
Ludwig, C. (2016) M.A., R.N., KPA-CTP, CPDT-KA Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Canine Connection LLC. www.clicker.solutions
McConnell, P. (2012). https://www.patriciamcconnell.com/ theotherendoftheleash/therapy-dogs-born-or-made
“Pet Partners Rat Behavior Packet.” Petpartners.Org, Dec. 2016, petpartners.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Rat-BehaviorPacket.pdf
Rosenberg, Rich. “Understanding Your Pet Guinea Pig: A Guide to Behavioral Patterns.” Hartz, 24 Feb. 2023, www.hartz.com/understandingyour-pet-guinea-pig-a-guide-to-behavioral-patterns/
Tanner, N. (2016). https://nancytanner.com/2016/04/11/themisunderstanding-of-time/ 156
Understanding Cat Body Language & Behaviour.” Purina, www.purina.co.uk/articles/cats/behaviour/ understanding-cats/cat-body-language. Accessed 22 May 2023.
Yin, S. Poster download Body Language of Dogs and Cats. https:// cattledogpublishing.com/poster-download/ Accessed 24 May 2023.
