Step 2: Health Screening for Your Pet
How to Become a Registered Therapy Animal Team, Cont'd
All animals who participate in the program must be healthy and free from parasites, disease, infections, and illnesses. The health screening is completed by your animal's regular veterinarian. To participate in the Therapy Animal Program, the animal must meet the following health requirements:
- Pass a general physical exam.
- Have a current rabies immunization as prescribed by state law and have a rabies certificate.
- Be in compliance with other immunization requirements, as prescribed by your veterinarian.
- Free from internal and external parasites and have a negative fecal exam within one year of turning in a Registration Packet. (NOTE: If your pet has received an annual exam by a veterinarian in the past 12 months, its health status has not changed, its rabies vaccination is up to date, and has had a negative fecal exam within one year, then you may ask the veterinarian to fill out the health screening form rather than perform another full examination.)
Diagnostic Testing and Immunization Requirements
Thanks to the input of our therapy animal teams in the field, and expert advice from veterinarians, Pet Partners has revised the Animal Health Screening Form. The form leaves testing and immunization decisions (with the exception of state rabies vaccination requirements) to your animal's veterinarian. Pet Partners believes that your animal's veterinarian is in the best position to decide what diagnostic tests and immunizations are appropriate. Pet Partners will rely on your veterinarian's medical judgment and knowledge of your animal's health history and status.
Rabies immunizations are required for all animals, as prescribed by state law, in the Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program. We hope that this new process will simplify Animal Health Screening for therapy animals.
The Animal Health Screening Form is in the Pet Partners' Therapy Animal Team Registration and Renewal Packets along with instructions for your veterinarian. Make sure that your veterinarian completes all sections of the Animal Health Screening Form or the entire Registration Packet will be returned.
If your pet is a different species and your vet has questions, please contact Pet Partners for further information before you send in your registration packet.