Serving the Lehigh Valley and Northeastern Pennsylvania

How do I join?

Pleasure of Your Company is always eager to add new volunteers to our team. Our volunteer program is open to the public, and all breeds of dogs — including mixes — are welcome to become therapy dogs. Help make a difference in our clients’ lives through the comfort of animal companionship.

  • Upon successful completion of the evaluation, you and your dog will accompany one of POYC’s mentors on a therapy dog visit.
  • New volunteers are then required to make their first therapy dog visit to a facility with another certified handler/dog team.
  • Upon completion of the visit, volunteers will receive a “Registered Therapy Dog” collar tag and POYC identification card for the volunteer dog. POYC provides insurance for all authorized teams during their therapy dog activities.

POYC Membership Application and Process:

To become a volunteer, potential volunteers must attend a general orientation that covers the basics on how to become a therapy dog team and a facility visit with other volunteers of POYC. After that, potential volunteers and their dogs are evaluated through a basic obedience and temperament test. 

Dogs must be at least one year of age, up-to-date on all vaccinations and medications, properly licensed for their area of residence, and obedience trained. There is a $10 non-refundable fee for the testing and potential volunteers will be informed at the end of the test if they passed. 

Click Here to Download the POYC Membership Application

To help cover the expenses associated with this program, volunteers are asked to pay an annual fee of $30 after passing evaluation and becoming a trained volunteer.

The application process includes five requirements:

1. Complete the application

Complete the membership application and include a copy of your current vaccine record and this year's canine license. POYC requires that your dog is current for rabies and the distemper series vaccines. Titers are accepted for the distemper vaccine.
Click here for Our Application

2. Join another POYC team

Join another POYC team on a dogless visit to observe what is involved in a visit. You can observe without worrying about your dog.

3. Schedule an Evaluation

Once your paperwork is received and reviewed, and you have completed the dogless visit, POYC will add you to the evaluation schedule and inform you of the date and time of your next evaluation.

4. Go on Your First Visit with an Evaluator

Upon successful completion of the evaluation, you and your dog will accompany one of POYC's mentors on a therapy dog visit.

5. Accompany Another Team

As a final requirement, you and your canine will accompany another therapy dog team on a visit. Upon completion of all five requirements, POYC will issue your id card and tag for your dog.

Evaluation and Testing

The evaluation consists of a two-part test for temperament and obedience. The temperament portion of the test is an evaluation of how your dog handles new situations, visiting with strangers, and whether they’ll be afraid of standard equipment such as wheelchairs and walkers. For teams that will work in one of our reading programs, a reading situation is simulated for the team. The second part of the evaluation tests for basic obedience skills such as heeling on a loose leash, entering and exiting a room, along with basic skills such as off-lead recall, and a sit or down stay.

Questions about Becoming a volunteer?

Help make a difference in our clients’ lives through the comfort of animal companionship.
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FAQ

A detailed answer to provide information about your business, build trust with potential clients, and help convince the visitor that you are a good fit for them.
A detailed answer to provide information about your business, build trust with potential clients, and help convince the visitor that you are a good fit for them.
A detailed answer to provide information about your business, build trust with potential clients, and help convince the visitor that you are a good fit for them.
A detailed answer to provide information about your business, build trust with potential clients, and help convince the visitor that you are a good fit for them.
A detailed answer to provide information about your business, build trust with potential clients, and help convince the visitor that you are a good fit for them.
A detailed answer to provide information about your business, build trust with potential clients, and help convince the visitor that you are a good fit for them.
A detailed answer to provide information about your business, build trust with potential clients, and help convince the visitor that you are a good fit for them.
A detailed answer to provide information about your business, build trust with potential clients, and help convince the visitor that you are a good fit for them.