Caring Canines is an animal-assisted volunteer activities program established in September 2011 at Mayo Clinic's Arizona campuses in Phoenix and Scottsdale. Our teams of registered therapy dogs provide comfort, encouragement and companionship to patients, visitors and staff. The dogs appear during scheduled visits in approved inpatient and outpatient areas, waiting rooms, and designated staff support locations.
Therapy dog visits are coordinated with clinical staff and infection prevention specialists to ensure they are appropriate for each care area and patient population.
Eligibility requirements
To volunteer with the Caring Canines program, handlers and their dogs must meet specific requirements.
Handler requirements
Handlers must:
- Be at least 21 years of age.
- Hold a valid Arizona Department of Public Safety Non-IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card.
- Have a minimum of 6 months of volunteer experience as a certified therapy-dog team in a healthcare setting.
- Successfully complete Mayo Clinic's occupational health screening, including:
- Negative tuberculosis (TB) screening.
- Documentation of immunity or vaccination for:
- Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR).
- Varicella (chickenpox).
Dog requirements
Dogs must:
- Be registered and in good standing with one of the following nationally recognized organizations:
- Pet Partners.
- Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD).
- Have documentation of a recent negative fecal examination for parasite ova.
- Be current on the following vaccinations:
- Rabies.
- Bordetella (kennel cough).
- Distemper, hepatitis, and parvovirus (DHPP).
Application process
Individuals interested in joining the Caring Canines program should complete the following steps:
- Fill out and submit an online volunteer application.
- Application review
Volunteer Services will review your application and required documentation to determine whether you meet the program's eligibility requirements. Only qualified applicants will move forward in the selection process.
- Interview and evaluation
Qualified handlers and their certified therapy dogs will be invited to participate in a joint interview and Mayo Clinic-specific evaluation to assess their readiness for volunteering in the healthcare environment.
Required documentation
Before an application can be considered, applicants must submit:
- Proof of certification from Pet Partners or Alliance of Therapy Dogs.
- Current veterinary health records meeting Mayo Clinic requirements.
- A copy of a valid Arizona Department of Public Safety Non-IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card.
- A completed Volunteer Verification Request Form, documenting at least six months of volunteer service in a healthcare setting, including:
- Name of the healthcare facility.
- Dates or hours of volunteer service.
- Contact information for the organization that can verify the volunteer experience.
Once your application materials have been reviewed and accepted, Volunteer Services will provide additional onboarding information, including the Mayo Clinic Animal Health Record form for your veterinarian to complete.
Contact
For additional information about Caring Canines, please contact Mayo Clinic Volunteer Services. We are happy to answer your questions and guide you through the application process.
