Volunteer With Your Animal
Become a Team with
Mid South Therapy Dogs & Friends
Participating in animal-assisted interactions with your companion animal is a voluntary service that can be very rewarding.
However, it is a serious responsibility that involves health, safety, and extreme emotions and behaviors. Volunteers must
deal appropriately with patients during the most challenging times. By becoming an MSTD visiting team, you are playing a
crucial role in our mission, and we are here to support you every step of the way. We deeply value your dedication and
commitment to making a difference in the lives of those we serve.
Click the steps below to learn more about assessments, training, preparation, and costs.
“People may not remember what you say, but they’ll ALWAYS remember how you make them feel.” Mayo Angelou
Join us
Comple MSTD Assessment and Screening Thank you for your interest in Mid South Therapy Dogs & Friends. Before you proceed, please click the button above to take a self-assessment. Our licensed ITA Team Evaluators will then interview and pre-screen you and your animal companion to evaluate your skills and abilities. This 20-minute screening is free, but you should schedule an appointment by contacting Mary Ehrhart at 901 336.0351 or emailing her at info@midsouththerapydogs.org
Schedule an Introductory Seminar—handler Only. Cost: $35. This seminar is required for Mid South Therapy Dogs & Friends membership and attendance at the Therapy Team Training Workshop Courses. Ready to go? Contact us to schedule an Introductory Seminar via ZOOM. This seminar will further identify the desirable characteristics that make a handler and their animal partner a successful therapy team.
PAYMENT: To pay, navigate to the top right corner of the page and select "BLUE DONATE BOX." Then, scan the Venmo code, or click the DONATE box under “Together We Achieve,” and use your credit card. Once the fee is received, you will receive—via email and WE Transfer—a registration form to complete and return, plus an Introductory Seminar Packet.
Mailing address for checks: Mid South Therapy Dogs, 2095 Exeter Road, Suite 80-105 Germantown, TN 38138
Attend Team Training Workshop ONE - Handler Only, Cost: $50 Are you looking for a volunteer service that is both rewarding and fulfilling? Participating in animal-assisted interactions might be just what you're looking for! But remember, it is not a casual undertaking and is not suitable for everyone. Animal-assisted interactions can be a fulfilling volunteer service. Workshop ONE will present to you how to register as a volunteer team, the difference between animal-assisted therapy and activities, how to recognize signs of stress in your animal partner, how to conduct a visit, how to prepare your animal partner, appropriate terminology, when visits are not appropriate, and common concerns. Walk through the Competency-Based Team Evaluation – THE TEST!
Date & Time: July 28, 2024, 1 pm Location: Baptist Memorial Hospital - Collierville 1500 West Poplar Ave, Collierville, TN 38017
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Attend Team Training Workshop TWO - All potential teams interested in Workshop TWO must have attended the Introductory Seminar and Workshop ONE.
Cost: $150. Private training times will be assigned after payment is made. Teams have 30 minutes per session to train with their partner at a facility, practicing role-playing, demonstrating proper parking lot procedures, signing in at the registration area, participating in the overall exam, learning elevator etiquette, visiting with clients in various situations, encountering clients that may act in a challenging manner, and greeting a random dog. A registration packet review (no partners) will occur on a different date. One Competency-Based Team Evaluation is included - CBTE.
Session 1 involves visiting a “Mock Facility.” For example, in a scenario, the team must demonstrate proper etiquette when exiting their vehicle. Suppose the partner is excitedly and uncontrollably tugging and pulling the handler. In that case, the team can practice and correct the partner to demonstrate that they can exit the vehicle in a reliable, controllable, and safe manner. The same applies to the other scenarios if time permits.
Session 2 involves a "Mock CBTE" with no corrections. This determines what needs the most work and the potential team's readiness to take the CBTE. This "Mock CBTE" will run from the beginning to the end with no corrections; if time permits, the handler can select specific scenarios to train on particular behaviors.
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Team Training Workshop Details Workshop TWO Times to be determined.
Location: First South Financial 6471 Stage Road Memphis, TN 38134
Dates: April 28, 2024, and May 5, 2024
Dates: August 25 & September 8, 2024
Registration Packet Review
May 18, 2024, Time to be determined. Baptist Memorial Hospital - Collierville 1500 West Poplar Ave, Collierville, TN 38017
September 22, 2024, Time to be determined. Baptist Memorial Hospital - Collierville 1500 West Poplar Ave, Collierville, TN 38017
Competency-Based Team Evaluation Times to be determined.
Location: Baptist Memorial Hospital - Collierville 1500 West Poplar Ave, Collierville, TN 38017
Date: May 19, 2024, Renew / Add Partner / New June 9 & 16, 2024, Renew / Add Partner / New October 6, 2024, Renew / Add Partner / New
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Thank you for your volunteer spirit!