Safety

Are Pet Partners safe to interact in a hospital or nursing home? Yes! The Upper Michigan Dog Therapy Partnership has taken the steps to ensure each and every dog entering a facility is in excellent health and every dog truly enjoys working with people. All participating dogs are required to pass a thorough veterinary evaluation and to pass comprehensive aptitude and obedience skills tests. These tests are part of the Pet Partners licensure process, an internationally recognized program which evaluates animals that will interact with health care patients.

The dogs owners are not exempt from the Pet Partners evaluation process. Owners must demonstrate an ability to effectively lead their dog. They must also pass written testing which evaluates their awareness of various medical conditions, dog training techniques, and strategies for successful interactions with patients.

The safety process also includes the patient. Prior to any patient interacting with Pet Partners, physician approval is required to verify there are no medical restrictions. Patients are also screened to insure they will truly enjoy the interaction. Rest assured, the Partnership has taken the necessary steps to insure the program is safe so that all you need to worry about is having fun!