ST. JOHN CANADA INSTRUCTIONS
THERAPY DOG
PROGRAM
NATIONAL OPERATIONAL STANDARDS
GENERAL
1. The St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program began in Peterborough, Ontario in 1992.
The program provides dog visitation to comfort the lonely, sick and elderly. It has been
proven that the petting, affection and regular visitation of a dog can be beneficial to
hospitalized patients. The St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program is unique in that the
same dog and handler visit the same place, at the same time each week.
- Hospitals and nursing homes are comfortable accepting the program because it addresses a
need and is safe. Dogs are checked for temperament, health and cleanliness.
STRUCTURE
3. The Therapy Dog Program, as a community care service, is an element of the existing
Brigade organizational structure. All policies and procedures outlined in the StJCI for
other Brigade members apply equally to members of the Therapy Dog Program, with the
exception of StJCI 2-4 on Patient Care Training Systems.
4. Therapy Dog Units function as separate units, and Program Coordinators are appointed
to each unit level. Generally, units are aligned with Branches which are responsible for
providing support to the local Therapy Dog Unit in the same manner that they provide
support to other Brigade units.
5. When a request for the program is made from a community (ie. dog clubs, hospitals),
and factors such as geography or logistics limit the possibility of Branch alignment, then
independent Therapy Dog Units may be established. These units should be self-supporting
and deal directly with the local community and their respective Council on all financial
support issues.
6. The following positions have specific roles and responsibilities (see Annex A)
to ensure the efficient running of the Therapy Dog Program:
a. Provincial/Territorial/Area Therapy Dog Coordinators
b. Unit Therapy Dog Coordinators
c. Evaluators and Assistant Evaluators
d. Chief Evaluators
e. Dog and Member (Handler)
f. Auxiliary Member
ESTABLISHING A THERAPY DOG PROGRAM
7. Consultation must be made with the National Therapy Dog Coordinator before
establishing a Therapy Dog Program provincially. The National Therapy Dog Coordinator will
provide assistance through advice and the provision of materials.
8. Arrangements must be made for initial evaluations to be carried out by a national
representative or identified consultant. This will be done at the expense of the Council.
9. Branches seeking to establish a Therapy Dog Program locally should follow the
process as laid out in Annex B.
10. Once the program is established provincially, it is the responsibility of the
Council to maintain the standards of the program through ongoing evaluations. This may be
done internally or through the original evaluator, at the expense of the Council.
Neighbouring Councils may choose to collaborate and share the costs.
MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS
11. Membership requirements for members of the Therapy Dog Program are as stated in
StJCI 2-3-1. Personnel administration for members of the Therapy Dog Program are as stated
in StJCI 2-8-1. Personnel administration at the local or Council level may also include
the name of each member's dog(s) to facilitate recognition of service for the dogs.
RECOGNITION
12. Members of the Therapy Dog Program are eligible for all the awards as listed in
StJCI 2-6-1. Note that Councils may choose to use Service Pins for Therapy Dog
Members as an alternative to Service Bars, as referred in StJCI 2-6-1, paragraph 6.
If the Service Pin is used, it is to be worn on the left lapel of the blazer or jacket, or
on the left breast of the work shirt, above the pocket if one exists.
13. Councils may choose to provide coloured tags or certificates as recognition to the
dogs for their accumulated number of visits (eg. after 75, 150 and 250 visits). Records of
dog visitations must be kept at the unit level. The Coordinator must then request the
appropriate awards from their Council and arrange for their presentation.
STANDARDS
14. All testing of dogs for admittance to the Therapy Dog Program must be conducted
using the national Therapy Dog Evaluation. To ensure the preservation of national
standards, deviation from this evaluation may not occur. The responsibility for all
national Therapy Dog standards rests with the National Therapy Dog Coordinator.
15. Initial evaluations for a Council will be under the guidance of the National
Therapy Dog Coordinator. The Provincial Evaluator will in turn train others to the
required standards. Evaluators are expected to complete all necessary forms, which are to
be held at the Council Headquarters for reference. Actual tests will not be released to a
Council wishing to set up an initial program until authorization by the National Therapy
Dog Coordinator.
16. Handlers will provide St. John Ambulance with veterinarian-signed verification of
current immunization and health status.
UNIFORM
17. Therapy Dog members wear approved shirts with the St. John Ambulance logo, and
black or grey pants/skirt. This makes them easily identifiable by both the residents and
staff and also gives the residents in health care settings confidence to know that the
person belongs to a credible organization. Dogs wear a St. John Ambulance ID tag, and may
also wear a Therapy Dog kerchief.
INSURANCE COVERAGE
- All volunteer dog handlers are covered under St. John Ambulance’s liability and
accident insurance.
- The dogs are covered under St. John Ambulance’s liability insurance in case they
cause an injury or damage while on duty. In the event the dog’s owner is sued, this
would first be applied to their personal homeowner’s insurance, and then the national
insurance carrier for St. John Ambulance. If the dog’s owner does not have
homeowner’s insurance, the national insurance carrier will become the primary
insurer.
- If the dog is injured while on duty, the owner is wholly responsible for expenses (e.g.
vet bills). Coverage for this is not available through our insurance carrier.
