Frequently Asked Questions

 Heart to Heart is a 501(c)(3) organization that trains and supports owners and therapy animals to provide therapeutic visits to approved facilities. Our therapy teams offer unconditional love, caring and comfort. 

• Assurance that the facility is safe and is appropriate for you and your therapy partner
• 24-hour support from Heart to Heart staff and other handlers
• Current information on Pet Partners requirements for registered teams to maintain insurance coverage
• Additional insurance coverage through Heart to Heart
• Bi-monthly handler meetings provide continuing education regarding infection control, safety on visits, responding to ‘awkward’ situations, grooming and health updates, dealing with the death of a client, etc.
• Handler meetings provide an appropriate, “safe” place to share experiences of visits

 We currently have therapy teams visiting Huntsville Hospital Main and Huntsville Hospital Madison. Our teams visit Regency Rehabilitation Village, Elk River Health & Rehabilitation Center of Ardmore, Magnolia Trace Health and Rehabilitation, Redstone Village,  Heritage Assisted Living and Memory Care, and Tut Fann State Veterans' Home.

We have two teams at Reading Enrichment programs at both the Huntsville Inner City Learning Center and at Blanche Elementary Scholl in Taft, Tennessee.  In addition to a "Read with Me™" team at Madison County Elementary School, we’ve developed a "Write with Me" program to help reinforce positive behavior choices for their young students. 

We assess and accept additional facilities to meet the needs of our handlers and of the facility. If you have an idea about a facility you’d like to visit, please let us know.

 No therapy animal is required. We need non-handlers to visit with the therapy team in our reading programs, in the 'Write with Me' program as well as on visits at both Huntsville Hospital facilities. Volunteers are always welcome to help with role play during team training, as evaluation assistants, and at community events. 

Handler: 18 years of age

Dog: At least two years old and has been in the handler’s home for at least one year.

   Spayed or neutered or have earned the AKC title of Conformation Champion.

   Completed at least two group obedience classes beyond the Puppy level. 

   Approved for the Heart to Heart Intern Training Program.

There is no application fee for Heart to Heart and no fee for the Pet Partners Handler Workshop.

There is a $45 fee for Heart to Heart annual dues that is paid at the Heart to Heart in-service where the Statement of Commitment is submitted. 

Pet Partners registration is $50. 

Heart to Heart provides uniforms for each graduating team.

   Handler:

     Short and long-sleeved polo shirts,

     Fleece jacket,

     Burgundy socks and masks (when required by the facility), and

     Burgundy waist pack.

     Shirts, jacket, and waist pack are monogrammed with the Heart to Heart logo.

   Therapy animal:

     Vest monogrammed with the logo and

     Scarf monogrammed with the Heart to Heart logo and the animal’s name. 

Handler: $45 annual dues to Heart to Heart paid annually at the January handlers meeting

Team:      $50 every two years to renew Pet Partners registration

Uniform:  Khaki trousers or skirt and closed-toe shoes with a closed heel

Appropriate equipment for therapy animal (harness, halter, or collar and 4’ leash)

Assignment of a “Training Buddy” who will be available throughout the training classes and        for your first year to answer questions, offer suggestions and support, and be your ‘go-to’ person.

Before starting Skills classes, you'll shadow one experienced Heart to Heart therapy team on a visit and review observations with your Training Buddy.

Two 7-week classes at Island Dog Training Center (Enrollment limited to Heart to Heart Intern Teams)

• Basic Skills for Prospective Therapy Dogs: Increasing mastery of basic obedience skills in more challenging situations.
• Advanced Skills for Intern Teams: Developing handling and presentation strategies specific for each intern team

Pet Partners Handler Workshop: An 8-hour workshop taught by an experienced, working         Heart to Heart handler who is a registered Pet Partners Instructor. The content and role play prepare interns for the Pet Partners online assessment

Shadow two different Heart to Heart Teams on a visit and review observations with your Training Buddy

Heart to Heart In-Service: Overview of Heart to Heart and introduction to Handling Protocol and Skills Physiological Effects and Benefits of Animal Assisted Intervention

• Needs of Specific Populations (i.e. children, elders, clients with dementia, etc.
• Anatomy of a visit: How to Begin, Conduct and End a Visit
• Effective Communication
• Understanding Dog Behavior: How to read and respond to your partner's stress signals

Pet Partners Team evaluation: administered by an experienced Heart to Heart handler who is a registered Pet Partner Evaluator

Go with your partner to three Heart to Heart Training sites, each presenting a different type of setting and population. The Team Assessment Evaluator, Volunteer Coordinator, and one member of the Board of Directors will accompany you on each visit

Make a visit to your assigned facility with the Executive Director to meet staff and review facility policy

Make at least two team visits to your assigned facility. On each of these visits, you'll be accompanied by two observers: Team Assessment Evaluator, the Volunteer Coordinator, and/or the Executive Director

This is decided over the course of the training program. There are ongoing conversations between the intern and Heart to Heart staff to be sure each team is assigned to a facility and with a population that the handler and partner would enjoy visiting. 

Teams visit their facilities twice a month. With Board approval, more frequent visits can be made at some facilities.

Therapy dogs and equines must be bathed within 24 hours of each visit.

Each visit usually lasts 1-1½ hours and is never to be more than 2 hours long. 

Handler: Attend Bi-monthly Handler Meetings

Submit monthly log of hours (visits plus agency support)

Email Heart to Heart at info@HearttoHeartPetPartners.org

Call 256-763-0424