Greetings and thank you so much for your interest in the PAWS program! One of the requirements for you to join PAWS is to go through an orientation about PAWS. To attend this orientation, you do NOT have to have completed all your requirements with your animal partner to become a registered therapy animal team.
All species are welcome as long as the team is registered, or working towards registration, with one of the following 5 organizations:
- Alliance of Therapy Dogs
- Canine Inspired Change (CIC)
- ITA
- Pet Partners
- TDI
The PAWS program operates 4 days a week (Monday through Thursday) throughout the academic year, and each session lasts 2 hours. There is not a requirement for attendance, and teams can sign up for one session weekly, monthly or every session during the week. Teams can also sign up for one or both hours. Teams are compensated with parking validation after each session.
Upcoming orientation options:
The following dates and times are listed first for the ones that are in-person and then by the day of the week. The final section lists zoom-only sessions. I am going to be out for several weeks starting in November, so the next orientation session will start again in January 2025.
Ideally, I suggest you look at the PAWS calendar and pick a session where you can come and observe - sans your animal partner. This is a great opportunity for you to get a sense of what a session looks like, talk to other handlers, and meet some of the students. Then, the orientation takes place immediately after the session (allow an additional 2 hours for the orientation in addition to the amount of time you spend observing a PAWS session). During this orientation, we will discuss the program, how this is different than other facilities where you might have gone with your animal, and how college student needs are particular to their developing years.
Thank you again and I look forward to meeting you soon!
Tanya K. Bailey, PhD, LICSW
PAWS Program Director
tanya@umn.edu
