Paws for Friendship - contact
when you need a friend

PAWS For Friendship Inc. is a non-profit volunteer international therapy pet organisation.

Its headquarters is in Omaha, Nebraska (USA). There are currently chapters all over the world. The organization was founded in 1993 by Jennie, a fawn Great Dane, and Jan Schmidt who adopted her when she was six months old. Jennie had been abused and was in an animal shelter, scheduled to be put to sleep the next day. When Jan saw Jennie she fell in love with her and immediately adopted her.

Sadly, Jennie passed away on November 8, 1999.

There are no special classes or tests required to become a Certified Therapy Team (cat or dog and handler), but an evaluation is required. If qualified then the pet and handler may become certified after sending the necessary paperwork to headquarters. Membership is required which is $35 a year. Included with membership is: Handler receives a sweatshirt, polo shirt, T-shirt, lapel pin, window decal, and newsletters. The pet receives a therapy bandanna, pet-tag and pet photo-card. The pet is insured while on official therapy visits for Paws For Friendship Inc. Pets must be up to date on all vaccinations.

If there is not a local chapter in your city then you may contact headquarters or the Oklahoma City Chapter co-ordinator. Contact information is: Headquarters Ph: 402-573-5826; E:mail: paws4fsp@radiks.net; web site: http://home.radiks.net/-paws4fsp/index.html Oklahoma City Chapter: Ph: 405-733-2226 or 405-317-2108; E-mail: pawstherapypets@yahoo.com

Therapy visits are usually 30 minutes to one hour a week. Only one visit a month is required to remain a member.

Weekly visits allow the patients and pet to form a closer bond. The patients usually remember which day the pet comes and look forward to the visits. Some patients like dogs while others enjoy a visit from a cat.

The Certified Therapy Teams visit healthcare facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, Alzheimer units, veterans centres, etc.

Dedicated volunteers share the love of their Certified Therapy Cat or Dog with patients who really benefit from the pet's visit. Certified Therapy Pets improve both the physical and emotional health of patients by providing affection, warmth and positive energy.

Their visits offer a welcome change from daily routines.

Visiting with a cat or dog can help people feel less lonely and depressed. The presence of a therapy pet decreases anxiety, decreases heart rates and lowers blood pressure.

Patients' expressions change when they see a therapy cat or dog. Frowns becomes smiles, silence becomes laughter and tears dry. There is a spark back in the person's eyes that wasn't there before the therapy pet entered the room. Many times, patients are unresponsive to people but when they know a therapy pet is in the facility then anticipation fills the air! Each team helps those in need - one paw at a time.

Volunteering is a great way to spend quality time with your pet. A dog should know basic obedeince commands but formal classes are not required. The cat or dog should have a very calm temperament and be well socialised.

This is very important in therapy work. They should enjoy meeting people, not be aggressive or fearful of people or pets. A therapy pet should be well socialized to new places, sounds, smells, etc. A cat or dog may be certified (if qualifed) when they are six months old or have had all of the required immunisations, which is usually at age six months.

An older pet may do therapy work too, its age makes no difference. Breed or sex of pet does not matter in becoming a Certified Therapy Pet. Male and female cats and dogs both make good therapy pets. All breeds of dogs make good therapy pets too, purebred as well as - mixed breed (Certified as All American Breed) in the organisation.

Large pets or small pets it doesn't matter. Some patients like larger dogs and some enjoy smaller dogs. All breeds of cats also make good therapy pets. Cats usually curl up in the patient's lap or beside them on the bed.