Project PUP volunteers

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Project PUP volunteers and their pets provide therapy visits to hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, libraries, schools, and college campuses in six counties (Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Manatee, Hernando, and Sarasota). The organization now has more than 400 volunteers and pets providing therapy visits, including several hundred dogs, 2 cats, 6 llamas, one miniature pony, and one miniature pig.

All potential Project PUP pet volunteers are screened for health, cleanliness, behavior, and temperament. Those accepted into the program visit facilities on a regular basis that request animal-assisted therapy visits. Project PUP volunteers visit nursing homes to interact with senior citizens, go to schools and libraries to read with children, serve as guest speakers at summer camps to share therapy experiences with campers, and travel to area college campuses to ease the stress of upcoming final exams.