Volunteer
PAWS Therapy Dogs Program
Our PAWS (Pets Are Wonderful Support) Therapy Dog teams visit Orange County residents in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, hospices, schools and even John Wayne Airport to provide affection, comfort and love.
We are a 100% volunteer-supported program consisting of handlers and their dogs in Orange County, California. Go to our program overview page to learn more about how PAWS Therapy Dogs are helping people through our Canine Literacy, Kindness Kids, PANDA, and AirPAWS programs.
Volunteering as a PAWS Therapy Dog team
Would you like to share your dog with members of the community, helping to bring smiles, cheer and help educate the next generation of animal lovers? Do you have time each month to give back to the Orange County community? OC Animal Allies would love to have you join its team of PAWS Therapy Dogs volunteers!
Applicants over 18 years of age who have a well-behaved and compatible family pet dog are welcome to learn more about how to become a member of our PAWS Therapy Dogs team!
A $30 to $50 deposit towards our organization membership fee will be collected at prior to orientation and if you and your dog pass the evaluation, there will be an initial Program fee ranging between $85 and $135 which includes program registration and onboarding, OC Animal Allies volunteer and dog uniform and materials.
All prospective PAWS Therapy Dog Program applcants must complete the multi-step process to be eligible for the assessment, regardless of prior experience or testing.
Upon successful completion of the assessment and evaluation process, volunteers must successfully complete probation and training periods at a probation facility location to continue.
Advanced programs such as our PANDA and the AirPAWS units are by promotion to tenured, proven teams who fit the needs of the program and meet eligibility requirements. Due to contractual obligations and expectations, we are unable to make exceptions to this policy.
Questions? Email us at info@ocanimalallies.org.
Generally, new programs dates are announced 3 to 4 times per year. Depending on the time of year and the number of people on our waiting list it may be several months before receiving an invitation for the next program to begin.
Please complete the application to be added to our program waiting list.
OCAA PAWS Contact Us Form
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