Therapy Dog Application

To Save your progress and return later to complete this application, or to resume a previously saved app, use the links at the top of this page.

After you submit this application for you and your dog to join our Therapy Dog Program as one of our volunteer therapy dog teams, we will review your application and contact you shortly with next steps.

Preferred First Name

Last Name

Legal Name

Pronouns

Parent or Guardian if applicant is a minor

Date of Birth

Street

City

State

Zip Code

Mobile Phone

Emergency Contact

Emergency Contact Phone

Emergency Contact Email

Dog's Name

Dog's Date of birth

Dog's Gender

Breed

THERAPY DOG INFORMATION

Thank you for your interest in volunteering as a Therapy Dog team through The Exceptional Sidekick. Below you will find some information to better prepare you for the test and our community guidelines.

The Exceptional Sidekick’s mission is to provide psychiatric service dogs to disabled teens and young adults, empowering handlers to complete their education, opening up their world to the life they want to live. Our Service Dogs are specifically trained to perform tasks that mitigate their handler’s psychiatric disability as defined by the ADA. Our clients suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and more. These exceptional sidekicks empower their 12-22-year-old handlers and put their independence within reach. The Exceptional Sidekick is breaking through the stigma of brain illnesses. We maintain our unwavering belief that clients should not have a limited education or quality of life due to a psychiatric disability that can be mitigated with a service dog. Our program actively collaborates with our community to raise and train these exceptional sidekicks and create a long-term network of support for our handlers.

Our Therapy Dog teams are a crucial part of our mission. Since service dogs can not be touched by the public we rely on our Therapy Dog teams to bridge the gap between the public and our working dogs. We require 10 hours of volunteer time a year from our Therapy Dog teams. Some of our outings and events include school presentations, scout events, fairs, festivals, or the Labor Day Parade. Outside of those hours, you are free to arrange visits to nursing homes, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, or schools. Once you are certified through The Exceptional Sidekick you will be protected under our liability insurance during volunteer time. Our coverage DOES NOT protect you or your dog during any non-volunteer time. For instance, we do not cover dogs being used in a professional manner in a therapist’s office where the therapist is the handler of the dog.

_________________________________________________________________________ The following information will apply

if your application for our Therapy Dog program is approved.

Testing Criteria:

No metal collars or leashes
No retractable leashes
No prong or choke collar
Head halters allowed (Gentle leader, Halti, etc.)
Handler must be accompanied by a parental guardian if under 18 years of age

Handler must submit proof of COVID-19 vaccine and pass a background check
Dog must have passed the AKC Canine Good Citizen, AKC Community Canine, and AKC Urban tests within the last year.

Testing and Registration Fees:

$250 for first year of registration which will include use of a therapy dog vest, ID, and Liability Insurance
$20 initial testing fee
$200 annual renewal fee after retest

Testing Items:

Overall appearance of the pet.
Response when approached by or sent to visit a stranger.
History of biting, snapping or snarling at humans, or animals.
Pet’s response to staring into his eyes.
Pet’s response to being touched on his legs (check all 4).
Pet’s response when ears and tail are pulled.
Pet’s response to head hug.
Pet’s response to crowding or sudden movement.
Pet’s response to a dropped object or loud noise.
Pet’s response to other animals.
Can the owner safely handle the pet with allowed collar and leash?

If any test items are deemed unacceptable, the dog will not pass the test. Your evaluator will discuss the reason for the failed test as well as options for further training or switching to a different activity with their dog. About half of the dogs that fail the test do so because of their maturity level. Retesting at a later time is a possibility based on the evaluator’s decision.

Thank you again for your interest in volunteering for The Exceptional Sidekick.

Questions can be directed to me at info@exceptionalsidekick.org or my cell at 203-994-7678.

Abby Hill, CPDT-KA

Executive Director

The Exceptional Sidekick Service Dogs