Paw Partners
Spending time with pets makes us feel good and enriches our lives. The Paw Partners pet therapy program uses the benefits of this interaction to decrease children’s stress and anxiety about illness, injury and the healthcare experience by providing visits with certified therapy dogs trained to work in a hospital environment. Additional benefits of pet therapy are:
- Positive therapeutic experiences that help minimize the stress of the hospital environment
- Support of the overall social, physical and emotional development of the child
- Reduced anxiety and enhanced coping skills by providing a distraction from illness and hospitalization
- Increased normalization of the hospital experience by making it more "home-like"
- Feelings of unconditional love and acceptance
Becoming a Paw Partners volunteer
To become a Paw Partners volunteer, you must be 18 years or older, and your dog must meet the following requirements:
- Be at least one year old
- Have current therapy dog certification through Delta Society or Therapy Dogs International
- Have current vaccinations and rabies boosters
All owners participate in an application process through The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Volunteer department, which includes an interview, health screening and orientation.
All dogs will be medically and behaviorally screened through The Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania at no charge to the owner. Once the owner/dog team has been accepted into the program, assignments to various inpatient areas and further orientation will be provided.
Volunteers must commit to at least one day per month.
For more information
Download the application for the Paw Partners pet therapy program here.
For more information, please contact the Child Life, Education and Creative Arts Therapy department at 215-590-2001 or e-mail childlife@email.chop.edu.
A portion of the cost of animal healthcare is underwritten by The Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania.
Contact Us
- 215-590-2001
- Contact Us Online
