Is Your Dog a Very Good Boy or Girl? DOWNRIVER

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Do people love your dog, and does your dog love people? Would you love to have a way to spend more time with your dog, while bringing joy to others? You and your beloved pet may just be perfect candidates to visit seniors, who can no longer care for a pet themselves. Hospice of Michigan is seeking people who are willing to take their own gentle and well-behaved dogs on visits to hospice patients throughout the Downriver area. Pets must be a minimum of one year old to be considered, current on their veterinary shots, and must be "interviewed" by our staff, and do NOT have to be certified therapy dogs. Quality of care is one of the cornerstones of our mission - a mission that could not be accomplished without the many 'helping hands' AND 'helping paws' of our volunteers.

Visits take place in patients' own homes, as well as nursing homes, assisted living, memory care, group homes, hospitals. Our hospice volunteers have shared that they find their work to be personally gratifying and meaningful, and we hope that you will share in this experience.

Volunteers with availability during weekday mornings and afternoons are needed most, and we ask that our volunteers make at least a one year commitment to our organization. Volunteers will be provided with ongoing one-on-one staff support throughout their service with us, and will be invited to ongoing education opportunities, and appreciation events. Our volunteers must complete an online application, interview, background checks, an orientation class, fingerprinting, and annual TB testing, and provide annual updated veterinary records if volunteering with their own pets. Pets must be a minimum of one year old to be considered, and must also be "interviewed."

Hospice of Michigan requires that any person who has suffered a personal loss wait a period of 12 months prior to volunteering. Thank you for considering this enriching and unique volunteer opportunity.