Our Ratification Process
At PeTS, safety is one of our core values. To support this, we use a thorough and thoughtful process to evaluate potential volunteers and their pets. Our goal is to ensure every team has the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to provide safe, positive, and effective pet therapy visits.
Before beginning your journey to become a Pet Therapy Ratified Team, please ensure your pet’s vaccinations are up to date prior to starting Step 1: the online PeTS 101 quiz.
Required vaccinations:
The full ratification process typically takes approximately six to nine months to complete.
There is a fee of $70 for Step 3b (Obedience Evaluations), or $50 for seniors or for a second pet. Additional costs associated with the process are outlined within each step.
Please note that all new teams must hold a current PeTS membership to be eligible to participate in any evaluations.
We ask all potential volunteers to complete the PeTS 101 quiz to help us gauge their interest in pet therapy and understanding of the role.
Before taking the quiz, we encourage you to review our website and the ratification process to learn more about what pet therapy involves and what will be expected of you as a volunteer.
Prospective volunteers who are eligible for ratification are required to join our society as a General Volunteer in order to continue through the ratification process.
Annual membership fees are $30 per person (ages 18+). Membership provides access to internal programming, social events, and insurance coverage while participating in approved PeTS visits and events.
Once you have registered for a Temperament Evaluation, you will receive an email with important details, required documentation, and next steps. Required forms will be available in an online format and include:
Temperament Evaluations are conducted on an individual basis and take approximately 15 minutes to complete. After the evaluation, you will receive an email with your results, next steps, and a report card outlining the outcome.
To proceed in the ratification process, teams must receive a “Ready” status. If a “Not Ready” status is given, teams may re-evaluate up to two additional times within a one-year period.
Once a Temperament Evaluation status of “Ready” has been received, new dog teams may move on to the Obedience portion of the Ratification Process.
During this stage, PeTS evaluators will guide you and your dog through a 13-point evaluation in a small group setting, with a maximum of three other dogs present at one time. This portion of the evaluation typically takes 1 to 1.5 hours to complete. You will receive an email in advance with your assigned time slot and attendance details.
The evaluation includes a variety of obedience scenarios designed to observe how your dog responds in environments similar to those encountered during therapy visits. These may include:
After the evaluation, the PeTS evaluators will review their observations and assign one of the following outcomes:
A report card summarizing the evaluation results will be emailed to you, along with next steps for teams awarded a “Ready” status to proceed to Step 4.
If a “Not Ready” status is given, teams may reattempt the evaluation up to two additional times within a one-year period.
If a “Not Eligible” status is assigned, the team will not be permitted to re-evaluate with PeTS.
No additional forms are required for this stage.
The cost for the Dog Obedience Evaluation is $70 ($50 for seniors).
After receiving a “Ready” status in both Steps 3a and 3b (Pre-Screen), you will be sent an email outlining the next steps and any required documentation.
As part of this stage, you will be invited to complete an open-book Handler’s Quiz, using the Handler’s Manual as your guide. A link to the Handler’s Manual will be included in the email.
A passing grade of 80% is required to move forward in the ratification process. Once completed, you will receive an email with your results, which are needed to proceed to the next step. There is no cost associated.
After achieving a passing grade of 80% on the Handler’s Quiz, prospective volunteers will complete an Observed Visit. This involves attending a one-hour pet therapy visit (without your pet) alongside a PeTS Team Lead. This is a valuable opportunity to experience a visit firsthand, observe interactions, and ask questions.
The congratulatory email you received following your Pre-Screen Evaluation includes a link to the Observed Visit Form, as well as a Team Lead contact list. You may use this list to reach out and arrange a time for your visit.
There is no cost for this step; however, parking fees may apply depending on the facility location.
Once Steps 4 and 5 have been completed, prospective volunteers will be ready to register for the next available Pet Therapy Training Weekend.
Your registration email will include a link to the documents that must be completed prior to attending the Training Weekend. These will include:
While there is no cost to attend the Training Weekend, some veterinary clinics may charge a fee to complete the Health Screening Form. Please check with your veterinarian for their current rates, as this cost is the responsibility of the new handler.
All volunteer registrants must have their pet examined by a veterinarian within 45 days of their scheduled Training Weekend start date to ensure the animal is healthy and fit for pet therapy work. PeTS will provide the Animal Health Screening Form through a link in the registration email for your veterinarian to complete.
This email will also outline the next steps in your journey toward becoming a ratified team, so please keep it for future reference.
After completing Steps 3, 4, 5, and 6, you will be ready to attend the Pet Therapy Training Weekend. This weekend-long event is designed to prepare you and your pet with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to provide safe and effective pet therapy visits.
There is no cost to attend; however, parking fees may apply depending on the facility.
During the weekend, you and your pet will participate in interactive learning sessions, role-play scenarios, and guided discussions based on real situations you may encounter during visits. These activities help you learn how to respond appropriately and work as a team in a variety of environments.
As part of the weekend:
On the second day, teams will complete a final in-facility evaluation that includes demonstrating your ability to safely and confidently participate in a pet therapy visit setting.
Teams must receive a “Ready” status to move on to the final step. Following the weekend, you will receive an email with your results, a report card, and the next steps toward becoming a ratified PeTS team.
After completing the Training Weekend and receiving a “Ready” status, prospective volunteers will be assigned six to nine practicum visits to complete within three months.
During each practicum, a PeTS Team Lead will observe you and your pet during a real visit and provide feedback to help build your confidence and skills. To give new teams a variety of experiences, a maximum of two practicums may be completed at the same facility with the same Team Lead (this does not apply to cat teams).
We encourage new teams to visit a variety of facilities to discover where you and your animal feel most comfortable and enjoy volunteering.
There is no cost for practicum visits; however, parking fees may apply depending on the facility.
Once all previous steps have been completed, the PeTS Board of Directors will review each prospective team’s file, including evaluation results, Handler’s Quiz completion, and practicum feedback. A majority vote is required for ratification.
If ratification is not granted, the Board may recommend that certain earlier steps be repeated to help the team further prepare.
Teams who receive Ratified Status will be sent a welcome email outlining next steps, including how to receive their PeTS uniform items (name tag, lanyard, pet scarf, and trading cards). These items remain the property of PeTS and must be returned if membership is no longer in good standing.
Annual membership must be maintained in good standing to continue participating in visits at PeTS partner facilities.
Once the Board has approved your ratification and you have received your Ratification Package, your online profile will be updated to reflect your status as a Ratified Pet Therapy Team. At that point, you will gain access to the full list of PeTS partner facilities and events.
As a ratified team, you can choose where, when, and how often you would like to volunteer, including participating in regular visits and Stress Buster events that interest you.
To remain in good standing as a ratified team, you must:
If a team is unable to complete any visits within a six-month period, the temperament and obedience evaluations must be repeated to ensure the animal remains suitable for pet therapy work.
Teams that have not completed any visits within 12 months will be considered retired and must go through the full ratification process again to return to active status.
