Join the Volunteer Team
Power Paws for Kids is always looking for more volunteers, whether you own a dog or not! For the canine owners there are a few key qualities we look for in a therapy dog:
- Your dog must get along well with children and adults.
- Your dog must know the basic commands(sit, stay, come, etc).
- Your dog must tolerate other dogs being around them and does not display aggressive behavior.
- With therapy work, you must have control of your dog at all times.
- Your dog must pass a CGC test. Intermediate obedience training, if you have not already had this, which you would take on your own from outside trainers is recommended before taking the CGC test. Power Paws can assist you in locating CGC evaluators. Delta registration or TDI are also acceptable to apply to Power Paws. An internal therapy evaluation by Power Paws will also be required, at no cost, after passing CGC test.
Programs you and your dog may participate in:
Rally obedience: This program is designed for special needs school aged children. Your dog is paired with one child for this program (usually from 6-8 months). You will meet once a week at that school and the child will learn from an instructor how to teach your dog to go through a Rally Obedience trial. This will entail walking the ring on heel, sit, stay, down, come, go through a tunnel, over a jump, and through a hoop. This teaches patience, camaraderie between child and dog, listening skills and pride. This is a 1 hour class once a week.
Reading Program: This program is designed for school aged children who may be slower or lower readers. You dog is paired with 1-2 children in a library setting, either at a public library or school library. You and your dog will sit and listen to a child read to your dog. Dogs do not care if a child makes a mistake, reads slow, or stumbles on words and this will help bring confidence to the reader and patience, thus improving their reading skills. This is usually 1 hour a week or more if you are available.
Visiting the Elderly: We currently are visiting the Elderly at Hartsfield Village in Munster, Indiana every other Monday morning. Offering a friendly face, tail wags, and conversation to those who look forward to visits from friends. This is a 1 hour program every other Monday.
We look forward to adding more programs as we grow!
Please fill out our volunteer application, and someone from Membership will contact you shortly.
Do not own a dog? No problem! We would still love to have you volunteer your services in other ways such as fundraising, grant writing, publicity, organizing, advertising, etc.
* Delta registrations can be done within our group if you feel your dog is ready.
* Power Paws charges a small fee of $25 for Delta evaluation/testing of your dog done within our group. However, this fee is refunded after participating in 4 events.
For more volunteer inquires please contact:
Membership Committee
Dave Thompson
Tel: 219.671.0076
Email: dthompson@powerpawsforkids.org
