Join Our Team
Becoming a Therapy Paws Handler
We provide comprehensive dog training. No experience is necessary. Whether in schools, hospitals, or community centers, you and your canine will be instrumental in creating lasting impressions on young lives. We invite both seasoned dog owners and enthusiastic newcomers to join our mission, turning your love for dogs into a powerful tool for empathy and change in the lives of children.
What We Require from Handlers
Due to the cost and time that goes into training, equipping and supporting dogs in our network, we require prospective handlers to commit to the following prior to TDI dog training commencing:
Duration of service: Handlers must commit to a minimum of two years of service.
Volunteer Hours: Handlers must commit to a minimum of one hour of service a month.
Confidentiality: Handlers are to maintain confidentiality concerning the individuals they interact with and serve.
Reporting: Handlers are to report their volunteer activities monthly.
*If unable to meet the years of service or minimum hours commitment, handlers will be required to reimburse Therapy Paws for the cost of initial training.
What We Offer Handlers
Training: Through relationships with Mid-Missouri’s most elite dog trainers, Therapy Paws covers the majority of the cost for TDI dog training.
Community: In addition to professional staff support, handlers join a wider community of volunteers to exchange successes and frustrations, and collaborate.
Coordination: We connect passionate handler/canine teams with youth in need of the vital service they offer.
Insurance: Therapy Paws maintains general liability insurance for handlers and dogs.
Learn More
Complete the form below and a member of the Therapy Paws team will reach out to answer your questions!
Our Impact
Since our founding, Therapy Paws has delivered thousands of hours of therapy to hundreds of children. By joining our network you will be an integral part of children in Missouri receiving the benefits a therapy dog can provide. These benefits include:
Emotional Support: Interacting with our therapy dogs can help children manage stress, anxiety, and loneliness. The unconditional love and affection our dogs can brighten even the toughest days.
Physical Well-being: Petting and playing with therapy dogs can lower blood pressure, reduce heart rate, and release endorphins, contributing to an overall sense of well-being.
Improved Communication: For children who struggle with verbal expression, interacting our therapy dogs can encourage communication and language development.
Enhanced Social Skills: Our program helps kids build confidence and social skills by engaging in positive interactions with our friendly dogs and their handlers.