These are organizations where you would take your own pet to be evaluated. If your pet passes the evaluation, you can then do pet visitations at various hospitals and senior facilities.

Passing an evaluation through one of these organizations is completely separate from anyone that wants their dogs (or cats) to be with them at all times as assistance animals, or when a doctor states the person can have an animal with them at all times (due to a physical, mental, or emotional reason). To apply for this status, contact the animal control shelter in your city or county.

Local Organizations

The local listings have their own evaluation process, and when the person passes that individual organization’s evaluation, the person can only volunteer to do visits at the places designated by those individual organizations

Sacramento SPCA – Love on Loan program
Contact: Natalie Vergara at 916-504-2847 or email nvergara@sspca.org

Shriners Children’s Hospital

National Organizations

For national organizations, the person can visit any facility that will allow pet therapy visits once they have passed the evaluation with that individual organization

Pet Partners
Contact: 425-679-5500

Alliance of Therapy Dogs
Contact: 877-843-7364

Therapy Dogs International
Contact: 973-252-9800