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FAQs - Therapy
Who is Delta Society?
Founded in 1977, Delta Society is an international,
not-for-profit organization of pet owners, volunteers, therapists, educators, veterinarians and other health professionals.
What is the Pet Partners Program?
The Pet Partners Program is a service program of the
Delta Society. Registered Pet Partners bring the physical and emotional benefits of human-animal interactions to people
in a variety of educational and healthcare settings. A person and his animal can register as a Pet Partner when the
person and the animal have completed the training and evaluation requirements.
What types of animals may be registered
with Delta?
In addition to dogs and cats, these species of animals
may become registered Delta Society Pet Parnters: Birds, Rabbits, Goats, Hamsters, Domestic Rats, Llamas, Guinea Pigs,
Ducks, Horses, Cows, Miniature Pigs and Chickens. (Wild or exotic animals such as snakes, ferrets and lizards
are not eligible. Wild or exotic animals are not legally acceptable as pets in many states.)
What makes an animal eligible for registration?
Dogs and cats must have lived with the owner for at
least 6 months and must be at least 1 year old. (Pocket pets and Rabbits must be at least 6 months old. Birds
must have lived with the owner for at least a year.) Handlers must be at least 10 years old with parental permission
to be evaluated.
Are any breeds excluded from becoming
a Registered Pet Partner?
A dog of any breed or mix of breeds may participate,
assuming that its presence does not violate local animal control laws or county laws. (Two types of dogs are not eligible
to be evaluated or become registered Pet Partners: Dogs that have been trained to aggressively protect and Dogs that
have been encouraged to bite, even as a component of a working task, or competitive activity.)
Can animals with disabilities become
Pet Partners?
Yes. The animal's regular veterinarian, consulting
with the handler during the required health screening will determine whether the animal is physically able to participate
in the evaluation and subsequently the Pet Partners program.
What characteristics should a Pet
Partner animal possess?
A Pet Partner is "Reliable, Predictable and Controllable".
A reliable animal has both solid temperament and solid training and can be relied upon to behave well. A predictable
animal has reactions which are predictable and within an acceptable range. A controllable animal remains well under
the handler's command even in odd situations or an emergency.
What is the Pet Partner evaluation like?
The evaluation consists of two parts: The Pet
Partners Skills Test (PPST) and the Pet Partners Aptitude Test (PPAT). See the Delta Society website for a complete
description of the evaluation process.
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