You and Your Dog Wanted: Pet Visitors for Emmanuel Hospice

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Do you own a friendly dog? Emmanuel Hospice is seeking a volunteer handler/dog team to visit our patients through our Pet Visitor program. The goal of the Pet Visitor program is to provide joy and increased quality of life for those in our care. Research suggests that engagement with a pet decreases isolation, decreases stress, and enhances ones mood.

As a Pet Visitor volunteer team you and your dog will spend one-on-one time with an assigned patient(s). Your visit will offer the patient companionship and an opportunity for engagement with your dog. Most Pet Visitor volunteer teams work once a week for approximately one hour (give or take).

We offer our volunteers a comprehensive hospice orientation program. The human volunteer/handler will participate in our self-paced Patient and Family Support volunteer orientation program. Upon successful completion of orientation program, the four-legged volunteer will participate in a pet companion certification process. Through a generous community grant, Emmanuel Hospice will cover the cost of the pet therapy certification. We will walk through the pet therapy certification process with you and be there every step of the way.

Qualifications for the pet companion certification begins with a friendly dog, aged one year or older, who has lived in your home for at least six month. Of course your dog must be house trained, vaccinated against rabies, and no history of aggressive behavior.

Emmanuel Hospice is an interfaith hospice located in west side of Grand Rapids. We treat our staff and volunteers like family. We serve our patients "where ever they call home" (private residents, residential setting, skilled nursing setting). Give us a call or email. We would love to discuss this opportunity with you.

For additional questions, email: EHVolunteer@emmanuelhospice.org or visit www.emmanuelhospice.org/volunteer to register!

We look forward to chatting with you!