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181 people are interested
Volunteer with your dog as a Paws & Think therapy team!
ORGANIZATION: Paws and Think, Inc.
Please visit the new page to apply.
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181 people are interested
We love bringing a smile to the faces of those in need!
Thank you for your interest in Paws & Think, a locally based nonprofit. We provide training and registration for therapy dogs, and our volunteer therapy teams (each made up of a registered therapy dog and its handler) visit with all different types of people at our partner venues around Central Indiana.
We are currently looking for volunteers to help bring joy to those in our community who need it most by volunteering with their dog. If your dog is well-mannered and loves visiting with all different types of people, they may be a good fit to become a therapy dog!
THERAPY DOG PROGRAMS
We offer Animal Assisted Activity therapy dog training classes and evaluations, and we provide liability insurance for our therapy teams when volunteering at our partner venues. You and your dog would go through our assessment process, and after you pass our therapy team evaluation you can volunteer at a variety of our partner venues in Marion and the surrounding counties.
- Paws to Read: Help children improve reading and comprehension skills by practicing reading to a therapy dog at local libraries and schools.
- Paws to Heal: provide comfort and support for healthcare staff, patients, and families at various hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities.
- Paws to Comfort: provide support for children and families grieving the death of a loved one or coping with trauma.
- Pause for Paws: provide stress relief to employees at local businesses and to students at high schools, colleges, and universities
- Paws to Connect: visit virtually with people who are experiencing loneliness or isolation who could benefit from a 1:1 interaction with a therapy dog
More opportunities with Paws and Think, Inc.
2 ReviewsNo additional volunteer opportunities at this time.
About Paws and Think, Inc.
Location:
1346 N Delaware St, INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46202, US
Mission Statement
Improving lives through the power of the human-dog connection.
Description
Our Youth-Canine Programs serve youths who need a "paw up." The youths may be academically or behaviorally challenged, disconnected, lacking a positive self-image, incarcerated, at-risk for suicide, or just searching for something that resonates with them. The life skills they learn help prepare them to be responsible employees, effective parents, leaders, and well-adjusted citizens. The dogs they train, many of which are stray, neglected or abused, also benefit by learning basic obedience skills and socialization that make them more adoptable.
Our Therapy Dog Programs serve individuals of all ages who benefit from interacting with a dog. We provide therapy dog visits for children and adults at various partner venues around Central Indiana including schools, libraries, hospitals and more! Our Paws to Read programs help children improve their literacy skills, while our Paws to Heal programs provide comfort and support to staff, patients, and families in all types of healthcare facilities. We also have specially trained crisis response teams who are on-call to provide support for community crises through our Paws to Comfort program, and individuals located anywhere can participate in our virtual Paws to Connect program to receive a one-on-one virtual visit from a therapy dog.
CAUSE AREAS
WHEN
WHERE
Indianapolis and Surrounding CommunitiesCarmel, Noblesville, Westfield, Zionsville, AvonPlainfield, Greenwood, Greenfield, ShelbyvilleINDIANAPOLIS, IN 46202
DATE POSTED
March 15, 2022
SKILLS
- People Skills
- Literacy / Reading
- Animal Therapy
- Animal Care / Handling
- Elder care
- Crisis Intervention
GOOD FOR
- Teens
- People 55+
REQUIREMENTS
- Driver's License Needed
- Background Check
- Must be at least 12
- Orientation or Training
- Minimum of 2 hours per month
- Youth 12-16 may volunteer as a therapy dog handler along with their parent or guardian. Volunteers aged 16 and older may volunteer as a therapy dog handler with written consent from their guardian.