PATS encourages you to attend your first visit without your pet and go along with other volunteers on the visit. You may do this before attending the animal etiquette class. With your returned registration information, PATS will send you a volunteer manual that gives you guidelines on how to handle your pet during visits. The team captain of your team will receive notification that you have joined their team and will call you to answer any questions you have and give you any specifics about their team. It depends on the site you are visiting.
All sites accept dogs, cats, and bunnies.
Some sites allow larger animals like pigs, goats and llamas. Pet Assisted Therapy Services is a local organization based in the northern California city of San Jose. We visit nursing homes, convalescent hospitals, children's homes, hospitals, a children's shelter, a juvenile detention facility, and a Veteran's Hospital in Santa Clara County and San Mateo County. We don't have branches or chapters in other parts of the state or country. You might check with your local Humane Society or SPCA to see if there is an organization such as ours in your area.