Membership Rules
Posted by Anne Corke on 2006-08-07. Filed under Website Updates
Membership Rules
Police checks are required of all prospective members.
Each dog must have an annual health check-up and all vaccinations must be up-to-date. A copy of the vaccination certificate must be forwarded to the designated person.
A handler may test only one dog at each evaluation unless otherwise authorized by the coordinator.
To be eligible to be tested, dogs must be at least one year old, unless otherwise authorized by the coordinator.
To be tested with a dog and become a member, you must be 19 years of age.
A dog must be tested with the person that will be visiting. You cannot borrow someone else's dog for the test.
In the case of a husband and wife, both members must be tested with the dog.
The therapy dog must wear either a flat collar or round snap nylon collars (Vollard). CHOKERS OR PINCH COLLARS ARE NOT ALLOWED. Harnesses are acceptable.
Leashes must be either nylon or leather. CHAINS, ROPES, OR EXTENDIBLE (FLEXI) LEASHES ARE NOT ALLOWED.
The handler must not smoke in public while in uniform.
The handler must not consume alcohol prior to visiting.
While visiting or attending an event, a handler may bring only one dog, unless given special permission by the coordinator.
It is the handler's responsibility to report any incidents of aggression or temperament changes which they see in their dog, or any other therapy dog, to the co-coordinator.
If there is a six month, or longer, lapse in visiting, the dog must be retested before resuming his visits.
A dog is not a certified therapy dog until it has done ten visits. During that trial period, both the handler and the dog are on probation.
To remain an active member, you are required to do a minimum 60 hours visiting per calendar year.