Pets As Therapy is a national charity founded in 1983. It is a community based charity providing therapeutic visits to hospitals, hospices, nursing and care homes, special needs schools and a variety of other establishments from volunteers with their pet dogs and cats. Since its beginning over 28,000 dogs have become registered PAT dogs. Every year some of these wonderful dogs need to retire and new dogs, having first passed a health, temperament, and suitably assessment, join Pets As Therapy. Today there are over 5,000 active PAT dogs & a smaller number of PAT cats working throughout the UK. Every week visiting PAT teams bring comfort and companionship to 1,000’s of people, both young and old, by giving them the opportunity to stroke, hold and talk to one of these calm and friendly dogs and cats. Any dog or cat can become a PAT dog, as long as it has been with its owner for at least 6mths, is over 9mths of age and can pass the assessment. All PAT dogs wear a special ID disc on their collars and have an identity badge. Their owners also wear a special ID badge whilst on visits.
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Saturday 5 October. We receive a package in the mail to advise that Archie has been accepted as a Pets As Therapy volunteer dog. Also enclosed is his identification badge (we humans also have identification badges) and his Pets As Therapy official disk which he will wear when on PETS business. We have decided to buy him the official PAT doggy vest which will make him even more visible to residents when working at care homes.
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Saturday 17 August. Archie's PAT assessment test took place today at 'Pets At Home' store in Stirling. We were delighted because he successfully passed his assessment "with flying colours" we were told by the assessor, Bonnie. We can now proceed with his application. The assessment is carried out by a Pets As Therapy Trained Assessor to ensure that the volunteer dog is healthy, friendly and entirely suitable to work in such places. Dogs need to be able to walk on a relaxed lead, without excessive pulling and without the use of head collars, harnesses or check chains. They have to remain calm during the assessment without excessive commands or restraint. They have to happily accept, and not be overly worried, about being stroked and handled and having their paws, tail and ears touched. The assessor will also check that the dog will take a food treat gently without snatching. And finally, the dog will have to respond appropriately to a sudden noise or disturbance in the room whilst being tested as they should not be overly fearful of this and recover quickly. The assessment is for both dog and owner, working as a team.
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