Membership Guidelines
Although dogs are most commonly used in therapy work, rabbits and cats can also certify with Hapi.
Wolf/coyote hybrids are not accepted to be certified as Hapi therapy pets due to possible liability and denial of coverage by Hapi's insurance carrier.
Dogs must be a minimum of one year old and rabbits/cats must be a minimum of 6 months old to begin the certification process.
Rescued, re-homed, and career-change pets are acceptable but must reside with the handler for a minimum of 6 months before a Control Evaluation can be administered.
Female therapy pets that are “in season” or “in heat” are not permitted to attend any tests or therapy visits until 2 weeks after the completion of the cycle.
Members may belong to other pet therapy organizations, but they are only covered by Hapi's liability insurance while volunteering during an official Hapi pet therapy visit. Members who wish to use their therapy pet “at work” are NOT covered by Hapi's liability insurance during that time.
Therapy teams that are currently certified with other therapy organizations may be considered for automatic full or partial Hapi certification upon review and completion of transfer paperwork. All submitted paperwork must be original copies.
Members and prospective members cannot evaluate their own pets.
Prospective therapy teams must:
Pass the Control Evaluation.
Ccomplete and pass a series of 1-hour supervised training visits (no more than 1 visit per day) with a certified Hapi member. Dog teams must pass a minimum of seven visits, and rabbit/cat teams must pass a minimum of 4 visits. Training visits may be done at any location that the prospective therapy team can be observed interacting with various people, apart from personal homes and residences. Each prospective therapy team will log their own training visits on the Training Visit Log. The final training visit, as well as at least 2 other training visits, must be scheduled with the SAME certified Hapi member. This certified Hapi member will then fill out the Final Evaluation.
Mail paperwork (original copies) and membership payment to Hapi.
Upon final approval by Hapi leadership, the prospective therapy team achieves the title of “Certified Therapy Team” with Hands and Paws, Inc. Once certified, the new therapy team must abide by the most current set of Membership Guidelines.
A “Certified Therapy Team” consists of one person and one therapy pet. Anyone handling the therapy pet during visits must be certified with that pet. If there is a need for your therapy pet to be controlled by another therapy team during a therapy visit for any reason, that therapy team must stop participating in the therapy visit until you return and resume control of your therapy pet.
Handlers who are certified with two or more therapy pets individually are permitted to handle a maximum of 2 therapy pets during a therapy visit upon review by Hapi leadership.
Hapi therapy visits are done by volunteers and are free. Hapi members may NOT request compensation or donations from facilities where Hapi therapy pets visit. Hapi members may accept donations from visited facilities if donations are freely offered. These freely offered donations must be given to Hapi and NOT be kept for personal gain.
Therapy pets must be healthy, groomed, and clean for petting. Pay special attention that nails/claws are trimmed and smooth. We recommend that your therapy pet wear a Hapi vest or bandana on Hapi therapy visits. It identifies your pet as a certified therapy pet and is an honor to wear. However, this is not a requirement.
Handlers must be healthy, clean, and look professional in appearance. Handlers are not required to wear official Hapi apparel, but they are expected to wear appropriate clothing for the event or facility they are visiting.
Handlers must display both their ID and their therapy pet's ID on their person while on a Hapi therapy visit.
Handlers must keep adequate space between therapy teams during group therapy visits. Handlers must NOT allow their therapy pet to invade the space of other pets. Be especially sensitive to new therapy pets. Also, make sure therapy pets are not blocking entrances, exits, or walkways.
Therapy teams should arrive at group events at least 5 minutes early so that therapy pets can “meet and greet” other teams outside of the facility before entering the facility for the visit.
Handlers should have their therapy pet near them and under their control at all times during a therapy visit. Therapy teams should be engaged with the recipients of the visit. Visits are not a play date or socialization visit for the pets.
Therapy pets must always be on a 6 ft or shorter, non-retractable leash while on therapy visits except when doing a demonstration of tricks in an enclosed room at appropriate times as deemed by the leader of that event.
The use of prong/pinch or electronic collars is not permitted during Hapi therapy visits of any kind.
Any handler who allows their pet to be off leash during a Hapi therapy visit (other than during the exception listed above) will receive 2 warnings to correct the behavior. Any further occurrence may result in suspension of their Hapi membership.
If your therapy pet lunges, nips, air snaps, swats, or excessively hisses/barks at any other pets during a group visit, you must use common sense and courtesy and remove your therapy pet from that event and the premises immediately.
Course of Action for certified therapy pets that behave aggressively towards another pet:
- 1st Occurrence: The handler will receive an official warning and will be required to work on the behavior. Depending on the situation, the therapy team may be suspended until the pet is reevaluated.
- 2nd Occurrence: The therapy team's membership will be suspended for 60 days while they work on the behavior. At the end of the 60-day suspension, the team must pass a new evaluation. If the team does not pass a new evaluation, that team's membership will be reviewed for possible revocation with no refunds given for any membership fees that have been paid.
Hapi membership/certification must be renewed yearly. To be eligible for annual renewal, therapy teams must complete a minimum of 12 hours of Hapi volunteer work per 12 months (exceptions may be permitted upon review), send in original copies of renewal paperwork, and pay a renewal fee. Use of a therapy pet “at work” does not count towards the required 12 volunteer hours.