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Become a volunteer

TheraPaws couldn’t run without the dedication of our volunteers. Both human and dog volunteers make an incredible difference to the lives of the people we visit.

While we continue to adhere to official advice regarding Coronavirus, we are not recruiting for any new volunteers until mid-2021.

Are you interested in becoming a TheraPaws volunteer?

We welcome all breeds of dogs onto our TheraPaws programme, however there are a few requirements that you will need to match. Take a look at these below.

If you think TheraPaws volunteering is for you, please complete our application form and we will be in touch.

Application process

If your application is successful we will invite you to take part in our two tier assessment, which includes a home visit and secondary location for further assessment and interview. After this you will need to attend a half day TheraPaws induction at Mayhew. The whole process can take up to three months from filling in the application form to your first visit. 

TheraPaws volunteer requirements

Dogs:

  • Must be at least one year old
  • Must have been with you for at least six months
  • Must be fully vaccinated and neutered
  • Must pass an assessment at Mayhew before they are accepted onto the programme.

Humans:

  • Must be able to make a regular commitment to a venue in London
  • Must be available for regular visits (weekly or fortnightly) that last between 60 and 90 minutes, depending on the energy of the dog.
  • Must engage with the people you meet in the venues
  • Must be willing to undergo a DBS check
  • Must be able to commit for at least six months

Things to consider about your dog before applying:

  • Does your dog have a calm temperament?
  • Does your dog walk on lead without pulling?
  • Does your dog react positively to meeting strangers (wants to interact and doesn’t jump up or bark at them)?
  • Could a stranger touch your dog’s ears, tail, paws, head and body without the dog getting worried?
  • Does your dog take food gently from your hand?
  • Does your dog recover quickly from loud noises?
  • Can you groom the dog all over?
  • Would you be able to move your dog quickly out the way (in case of an emergency taking place in a centre)?
  • Is your dog generally fit and healthy?
  • Must not jump up, bark, paw or lick excessively