Stay Connected!
Stay on the tail-wagging edge of PAL activities -- sign up here!
Volunteer With PAL
How do my pet and I become a certified team?
Is your pet manageable and well-behaved?
Calm animals are important because many of the people that PAL visits are frail, sick or handicapped.
Calm animals are important because many of the people that PAL visits are frail, sick or handicapped.
Is your pet under your control?
Your pet needs some basic obedience training. Your pet will be safer and more relaxed during visits if he or she understands what is expected of him/her.
Your pet needs some basic obedience training. Your pet will be safer and more relaxed during visits if he or she understands what is expected of him/her.
Is your pet sociable?
Your pet should enjoy the interaction with other pets and people. PAL visits are usually with small groups. It is essential that your pet be comfortable with other animals and people and have the ability to work in a variety of environments.
Your pet should enjoy the interaction with other pets and people. PAL visits are usually with small groups. It is essential that your pet be comfortable with other animals and people and have the ability to work in a variety of environments.
Our volunteers enjoy the pet visiting program because they are able to spend quality time with their pet as well as share their pet with others. PAL visits bring joy to the lives of people that may be ill, lonely or troubled.
Basic Requirements
Volunteers must be 16 years of age or older to be certified on their own. Volunteers between the ages of 10-16 must be accompanied by a certified adult. PAL does not certify children under the age of 10. Some facilities may place additional requirements on volunteers.
Pets must be a minimum of 1 year old and under your control. Male dogs must be altered. Female dogs may not attend orientation or pet visits while in season. (Pet age requirements are waived for pocket pets)
Pets must have a current health certificate on file at the PAL office. This certificate must be completed by your veterinarian and turned in before the orientation session. It needs to be updated annually.
Volunteers must turn in all necessary documents and orientation fee prior to registering for orientation.
PAL will certify dogs, birds and various 'pocket pets', such as guinea pigs, rabbits and hamsters.
Your pet must be well groomed at all pet visits.
Certification Process
If your pet meets the above rquirements and you think you and your pet would enjoy being a pet visiting team, you need to go through our training program which leads to pet visiting team certification The steps in this process are listed below. The pictures above are from a recent orientation.
1. Attend a PAL pet visiting volunteer orientation
Orientations are held every 2-3 months throughout the year. Orientations are usually held on a Saturday from 10:00am to 12:00pm or 1:30 to 3:30 at St. Alban's Church near the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Check the PAL Calendar for the next orientation. At orientation, you will learn PAL pet visiting policies and procedures and participate in role-playing activities with your pet. There is a limit of one animal per handler at the orientation and all pet visits (exceptions are allowed for pocket pets and very small dogs).
Orientations are held every 2-3 months throughout the year. Orientations are usually held on a Saturday from 10:00am to 12:00pm or 1:30 to 3:30 at St. Alban's Church near the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Check the PAL Calendar for the next orientation. At orientation, you will learn PAL pet visiting policies and procedures and participate in role-playing activities with your pet. There is a limit of one animal per handler at the orientation and all pet visits (exceptions are allowed for pocket pets and very small dogs).
You can print or download the Orientation forms and information (pdf file) from this website or call the PAL office to have a registration packet sent to you: 202-966-2171.
Download Orientation forms in Adobe .pdf file format
Download Orientation forms in Microsoft Word .doc file format
2. Attend two PAL supervised visits
At orientation, you will be asked to sign up for two supervised visits. On these visits you will be evaluated by the experienced PAL volunteer or staff member in charge of the visit (this person is called the 'Group Leader' for the visit). Most supervised pet visits are scheduled on week days and week day evenings; PAL currently has a limited number of weekend visits.
At orientation, you will be asked to sign up for two supervised visits. On these visits you will be evaluated by the experienced PAL volunteer or staff member in charge of the visit (this person is called the 'Group Leader' for the visit). Most supervised pet visits are scheduled on week days and week day evenings; PAL currently has a limited number of weekend visits.
3. Purchase ID badges and pet therapy cape
Once you successfully complete your evaluations, you are a certified PAL pet visiting team and will receive a certificate in the mail. You will need to purchase picture IDs for yourself and your pet and a pet therapy cape for your dog. ($65.00 includes your $20.00 orientation fee and $45.00 cape/badge/ID costs.).
Once you successfully complete your evaluations, you are a certified PAL pet visiting team and will receive a certificate in the mail. You will need to purchase picture IDs for yourself and your pet and a pet therapy cape for your dog. ($65.00 includes your $20.00 orientation fee and $45.00 cape/badge/ID costs.).
4. Join a facility visit group
Find a visit venue that you like and join the group. Note that some of the visits are limited either to a certain number of teams, or have other special requirements. In some cases, volunteers will be asked to visit at facilities where the need is greatest. You can also visit at more than one facility depending on your availability. You will be expected to make regular visits. To maintain your certification, we ask that you make at least 12 visits per year. Many of our volunteers make between 50 and 100 or more visits per year.
Find a visit venue that you like and join the group. Note that some of the visits are limited either to a certain number of teams, or have other special requirements. In some cases, volunteers will be asked to visit at facilities where the need is greatest. You can also visit at more than one facility depending on your availability. You will be expected to make regular visits. To maintain your certification, we ask that you make at least 12 visits per year. Many of our volunteers make between 50 and 100 or more visits per year.
Please Note: There are additional requirements to visit INOVA Fairfax Hospital. Currently there is a waiting list.
If you have any questions regarding the certification process, orientation, or the program in general, please contact the PAL Pet Therapy Coordinator, Toni Woods-Wilson at 202-966-2171 or toni@PeopleAnimalsLove.com.