AHS Animal Ambassadors

AHS' Animal Ambassadors are AHS volunteers who, along with their pets, provide animal-assisted therapy and activities to people throughout the Twin Cities metro area.  Through visits with residents in nursing homes, hospitals, and other facilities, and in reading sessions with children at local schools and libraries, these unique volunteers bring comfort, learning, and fun to the people they reach.

In addition to regular therapy visiting, the Animal Ambassadors group meets several times a year for social time and learning opportunities.

Animal-Assisted Therapy: Not Just For Dogs

When many people hear the phrase "animal-assisted therapy," they immediately think of therapy dogs.  But therapy work isn't just for dogs - domestic animals of almost any kind can be therapy animals, including dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, horses, and more!

AARF!  Reading with Therapy Animals

Members of the Animal Ambassadors may also choose to participate in the AARF (Animal Ambassadors Reading Fun) program. AARF teams utilize the training and curriculum of the R.E.A.D. program to help children improve their reading skills by practicing reading with therapy animals.  Animals provide a calming, non-judgemental audience to which children naturally respond.

Joining the Animal Ambassadors

To become an Animal Ambassador, you must complete the following steps:

• Apply to Become an AHS Volunteer
  Because Animal Ambassadors are AHS volunteers, therapy teams interested in joining the group must complete an application process and be approved as AHS volunteers.  To learn more about the volunteer application process, click here.
• Train For Therapy Work
  Dogs must have their Canine Good Citizen certificate and complete a Therapy Dog training program.  Cats, rabbits, and other small animals must complete a 4-week training program offered by the AHS training school.
• Become a Registered Therapy Team
  Upon completing the appropriate training program, teams must pass an evaluation exam and become registered with the Delta Society.  Registration demonstrates that you have the necessary handling and visiting skills for therapy work, and that your pet has the training and temperament to be safe and comfortable in a therapy visiting environment.  Registration also provides you with liability insurance coverage in case of an incident during a visit.
• Agree To Be an Active Member of the Animal Ambassadors
  New members of the Animal Ambassadors must shadow a current member during a therapy visit.  They must also commit to a regular schedule of volunteering, and to attending at least 3 group meetings each year.
• Optional: complete R.E.A.D. training to become an AARF team
  R.E.A.D. training workshops are offered at AHS approximately every 8 weeks.  These 4-hour workshops equip the volunteer to participate with their animal in reading sessions with children at schools, libraries, and other locations.

If you'd like to know more about animal-assisted therapy, join us for an upcoming Intro to Therapy Animals class.  You'll learn what makes a good therapy animal, what kind of training is required, and what you can do with your therapy skills once you've become a registered animal therapy team.  This one-hour program is free, but registration is required.  Call the education department at 763-489-2220 or contact Education online for more information.