Welcome!  We're glad you're here!  Please take a few minutes to read the information below.

 

Eligibility requirements for PAL teams:

• Volunteer handlers must be 18 years of age or older

• Volunteers are required to follow all volunteer and visitor policies, including health, vaccination, and mask requirements, of the host sites/facilities at which they visit

• Dogs must be fully up to date on rabies vaccination (& distemper for DC residents)

• Both handlers & dogs must be eager to socialize with unfamiliar humans 

• Dogs must be non-reactive towards other dogs

• At time of evaluation, dogs must be at least 1 year old & have lived with you for at least six months

• At time of evaluation, dogs must have passed the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test

 

Steps in the registration process:

1) Attend a 40-minute introductory Zoom session.

2) Complete a volunteer application.

3) Complete a 25-minute, online handler interview.

4) Demonstrate at an in-person team evaluation that you and your dog have the skills and temperament to be a safe, effective team (there is a $35 evaluation fee).

5) Demonstrate competency at two coached visits.​

​

Due to a high volume of applicants, expect the onboarding process to take 3-6 months. For further information regarding the CGC, local training and prep courses, and recommended reading, click the "Resources" tab above. Our in-person visits take place in Washington, DC and the immediate surrounding cities. If you have additional questions, please email us at info@peopleanimalslove.org.

​

If you have met the above eligibility requirements and are ready to participate in our introductory Zoom session, please sign up by clicking the button below.  We look forward to meeting you!

​

​