How can you and your pet join us?
MVPTA classes are held twice a year, 1.5 hours once a week for 7-weeks.
– Pet must be at least 1 year of age prior to start of classes.
– Pet must have lived with handler for 10 months prior to starting the classes.
– Pets must have good manners before starting class.
– Pets must have a Vet Check form (provided by us). Dogs must have a negative fecal within 30 days of starting class.
– Dogs need consistent basic obedience (sit, down, stay, heel).
– Class covers basic animal behavior, identifying stress in your pet and others, de-stressing your pet, and much more.
– Teams are certified when they successfully complete two supervised visits in a local facility.
– Pet must be at least 1 year of age prior to start of classes.
– Pet must have lived with handler for 10 months prior to starting the classes.
– Pets must have good manners before starting class.
– Pets must have a Vet Check form (provided by us). Dogs must have a negative fecal within 30 days of starting class.
– Dogs need consistent basic obedience (sit, down, stay, heel).
– Class covers basic animal behavior, identifying stress in your pet and others, de-stressing your pet, and much more.
– Teams are certified when they successfully complete two supervised visits in a local facility.
Is my pet a good candidate for pet therapy?
Your pet must like people and have good manners.
To get certification for animal assisted therapy, they must pass a skills assessment:
- Walking on a loose lead
- Sit, down, stay
- Greeted/pet by a stranger
- Walking past an unfamiliar dog with only mild curiosity
- Calm around medical devices
- Tolerating crowded petting without jumping up or getting overly active or shying away
- Not overly startled by loud noises
To get certification for animal assisted therapy, they must pass a skills assessment:
- Walking on a loose lead
- Sit, down, stay
- Greeted/pet by a stranger
- Walking past an unfamiliar dog with only mild curiosity
- Calm around medical devices
- Tolerating crowded petting without jumping up or getting overly active or shying away
- Not overly startled by loud noises
How do I prepare for pet therapy?
Make sure your pet is well socialized with all types of people and situations and is under control around other animals. Give them lots of new experiences in stores that welcome uncertified animals. Encourage people to interact with them. Get your dog used to walking on different types of surfaces (carpet, tile).
What is required once I get certified pet therapy?
Pet therapy is a guided interaction between a trained animal and a person and the animal's handler. The purpose of this therapy is to help an individual recover or cope with either a mental disorder or health problem. Dogs and cats are the most commonly used animals in pet therapy, but other types of animals can be chosen depending on the goals and their treatment plan. Each Certified handler and pet are required to make 12 visits per year, in addition to an annual vet check and annual dues of $35
What are the benefits of animal assisted therapy?
There are many benefits to animal-assisted therapy. This type of therapy builds upon the pre-existing human-animal bond. Interacting with a pet helps heal physical and mental issues. It can help improve cardiovascular health and reduce blood pressure and produce a calming effect. Pet therapy can be used in many different ways depending on the goals it is trying to achieve.
Pet therapy can be used to improve joint movements and motor skills, improve independent movement, increase self-esteem, increase verbal communication, develop social skills, increase willingness to join social activities, motivation to exercise. Other benefits include increased happiness, less depression, a better outlook on life, less loneliness and isolation, reduced anxiety or boredom, helps children develop empathy and many others. The best method to contact us is by email at [email protected] or by phone at 937-286-0028.
Pet therapy can be used to improve joint movements and motor skills, improve independent movement, increase self-esteem, increase verbal communication, develop social skills, increase willingness to join social activities, motivation to exercise. Other benefits include increased happiness, less depression, a better outlook on life, less loneliness and isolation, reduced anxiety or boredom, helps children develop empathy and many others. The best method to contact us is by email at [email protected] or by phone at 937-286-0028.
How much do classes cost?
You can learn more about MVPTA’s pricing and registration by contacting our Administrative Person through our website, by email at [email protected], or by phone at 937-286-0028. If you don’t have a pet but still want to support the work we do, we’re happy to work with you as a financial partner so we can continue to provide these much-needed services to our communities! Click here to donate!
When are classes held?
MVPTA holds classes twice a year at several locations. Each class session will meet for 1.5 hours a week for 7 weeks. Our training covers animal behavior, with highly qualified staff teaching handlers to ID stress in their pet and others, to de-stress their pet, and to communicate with their pet. Teams are certified after two supervised visits.
How does animal-assisted therapy work?
Imagine you're in the hospital, often a place nobody wants to be. You hear about the hospital having an animal-assisted therapy program and the doctor asks if you're interested. You say yes and your doctor tells you more about the program. Soon afterward an assistance dog and handler visit your room. They stay for around 10-15 minutes, and you've invited to pet the dog and ask questions. After the visit, you realize you're smiling. You feel less tired and more optimistic. You already can't wait until their next visit.
Why become a member?
MVPTA will teach you how to safely visit with your pets, have mentoring programs for new grads, and have many opportunities every week. The best method to contact us is by email at [email protected] or by phone at 937-286-0028. When you give us a call, you will be directly connected.
Why do you visit?
We have over 125 active pet therapy teams who provide Animal Assisted Therapy Services to over 95 facilities throughout the Greater Miami Valley area. Teams are made up of a pet and its owner, (dogs, rabbits, cats, miniature horses, and hand-held pets). It is our honor to serve Miami Valley Hospital, Dayton Children’s Hospital, Soin Medical Center, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Southview Hospital, Kettering Medical Center, Hospice of Dayton, Montgomery County Judicial System, University of Dayton, and numerous Nursing/Assisted Living facilities, libraries, businesses, schools, and by request, funeral services and crisis response.
What is the best way to contact you?
The best method to contact us is through our website, by email at [email protected], or by phone at 937-286-0028.
