Pet Visits To Seniors and Health Facilities

What is the Pet Visitation Program?

The Humane Society brings the joy of pets to hospitals, rehab centers, hospices and other senior and health care facilities island wide. The proven benefits from these visits include reduced anxiety, relief from loneliness, and enhanced well-being. Learn more about how animals and people help each other.

What does it mean to be a volunteer in the program?

As a Pet Visitation program participant, you will visit facilities based on assignment/ schedule availability and act as a Hawaiian Humane Society steward of our mission to promote the human-animal bond. Volunteers are trained in the history of the organization, current programs and services, and may be asked to participate in presentations/ events promoting the program and the Humane Society.

An important component of the Pet Visitation program is not only how the animal interacts with the recipient of the visit but also with the owner of the animal. To this end we ask that volunteers are 18 years of age and older and build a relationship with the facility they are assigned to by visiting at least three times a month for a minimum of six months.

How do I become a Hawaiian Humane Society Pet Visitation Volunteer?

Currently, animals in the program include primarily dogs but we are actively seeking well-behaved, friendly cats, birds and small animals to participate.

Volunteer pets must love interacting with people, be at least one year or older, healthy, and have resided with you for at least six months.

A temperament and aptitude evaluation examines a pet's basic obedience skills and the level of voice control you have with your animal companion.

For dogs, this is modeled after the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test including the following parameters:

• Test 1: Accepting a friendly stranger
  
• Test 2: Sitting politely for petting
  
• Test 3: Appearance and grooming
  
• Test 4: Out for a walk (walking on a loose lead)
  
• Test 5: Walking through a crowd
  
• Test 6: Sit and down on command and Staying in place
  
• Test 7: Coming when called
  
• Test 8: Reaction to another dog
  
• Test 9: Reaction to distraction
  
• Test 10: Supervised separation

• Equipment - All tests must be performed on leash. For collars, dogs should wear well-fitting buckle, flat collars or harnesses. Choke chains, prong collars, pinch collars, head halters, and electronic collars are not permitted in the evaluation or while the animal is visiting a facility.
• Encouragement - You may use praise and encouragement throughout the evaluation. The owner may pet the dog between exercises.
• Failures / Dismissals - Any dog that eliminates, jumps, growls, snaps, bites, attacks, or attempts to attach a person or another dog will be dismissed from the assessment.

Email Natalie Lukashevsky at nlukashevsky@hawaiianhumane.org to schedule your pet's assessment. Testing is done on Sundays, 11 am - 3 pm, in 30 minute time slots.

What’s next?

Once an assessment is complete and animal accepted to the program, an application outlining general information, availability, pet's microchip and license will be completed and health certificate must be signed by your pet's veterinarian confirming annual vaccinations, parasite checks, and monthly flea/ tick preventatives. Annual renewal of this form is required. Many facilities also require a two-step TB clearance for animal owners.

After your assessment, application and veterinary forms are completed you will attend a Pet Visitation training session. These trainings will give you a thorough look at our organization, the PV program, your role as a volunteer, what to expect at the facility, which facilities need volunteers, and much more. At this session you will receive your volunteer packet, volunteer badge, and your pet's official Pet Visitation bandana which must be worn to each visit.

For more information on pet visitation assessments, details about the program or to become one of our 60 participating facilities, email nlukashevsky@hawaiianhumane.org.