Volunteer with a Dog
Want to volunteer without a dog? Go here.
Passion and Positivity Required
Our volunteers range from high school students to retired couples and working professionals. The opportunities to support our mission through your volunteer hours are just as varied as our friendly volunteers. Our common thread is a powerful interest in supporting children; helping them grow up to be strong, confident, contributing members of our community. If your dog has a great disposition, you could make a great therapy team! Join dozens of other volunteers and their dogs enjoying visits through Roxy™ Therapy Dog programs.
Check out our FAQs about volunteering and programs.
Listen in as an elementary school student reads to her Roxy therapy dog.
“Roxy™ therapy dogs and their owners are an elite group of citizens who provide an extraordinary service to our community. ”
Getting Started as a Therapy Team
Requirements
1. Pass the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen Test.
2. Pass a leading agency’s Therapy Dog Certification Test. Click on the preferred links below for more information on each agency’s testing requirements, schedule and locations.
Please note that Roxy Therapy Dogs does not accept teams certified by Therapy Dogs INTERNATIONAL. We are happy to help you set up re-testing with one of the above agencies. Also, you must have owned your dog for at least 6 months before having them tested to be certified as a therapy dog.
3. Fill out our Volunteer Application, then contact us. We’ll arrange a meeting with our Welcome Team. They will answer any questions and help you with the required clearances, listed below. Note: Clearances are only valid for 5 years. All volunteers must maintain valid clearances in order to continue visits.
Submit to a PA State Police Criminal Background Check. There is no charge for this background check for volunteers.
Apply for a PA Child Abuse History Certification. Click “Create Individual Account”. The Keystone Key is a user name you create. Follow the site’s step-by-step instructions for creating a password. Be sure to keep a record of your Keystone Key and Password as you will need them to access your results. You will receive an email from the site when your results are available, within 14 days of your submission. There is no charge for this background check for volunteers.
Submit an FBI Fingerprinting Clearance. Enroll online at the IdentoGO site and make an appointment for fingerprinting at a location of your choice. The Service Code for VOLUNTEERS is 1KG6ZJ. There is a fee for the FBI background check. Alternatively, if you have been a resident of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania during the previous 10 year period, you can opt to complete this Disclosure Affidavit in lieu of the FBI Fingerprint Clearance. Please email it to our Director of Volunteers when complete.
4. Complete Mandated Reporting training online at Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse: Mandated and Permissive Reporting in Pennsylvania Online Training. Roxy Therapy Dogs Volunteers are considered mandated reporters by law and as such, all volunteers are provided Mandated Reporting training free of charge. This training is offered through a webinar created by the University of Pittsburgh.
Looking for a Therapy Dog Trainer?
For more information on getting started and training your dog for the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) or therapy dog evaluations, please contact Susie Danzis at Training Tails Dog Training.
Zoey gets thank you letters from her class.