The Friendship Foundation

The Friendship Foundation volunteers and their pets visit various facilities to enrich the lives of children and adults. A designated liaison arranges and attends all group visits. The Friendship Foundation brings the healing comfort of companion animals to people of all ages who are hospitalized or confined.

Our program offers a unique approach to stress reduction for hospitalized patients by sharing volunteer-owned animals with the patients to aid in the healing process.

Animals are carefully health and temperament screened annually by our animal behaviorists and volunteer veterinarians. Friendship Foundation volunteers use their own pets for visits. Friendship Foundation does not run an animal shelter.

As the pets are shared by friendly, attentive volunteers, they offer love and acceptance to patients without any judgments about how they look or move. Patients interact with the animals, volunteers and staff in a safe environment, often exchanging stories about their own pets. The animals offer a restful distraction from pain and relief from stress. It feels good to be the giver of attention to an animal instead of always being the helpless recipient of care. Laughter erupting as the dogs do tricks or a kitten chases a string has been shown to release chemicals in the brain that aid in healing.

Welcome. Your participation as a volunteer in animal-assisted therapy is as important as the animal you will share. Your friendly smile, gentle touch and ability to be a good listener will be invaluable gifts for the hospitalized people we visit. The following guidelines are provided to help you review the techniques that will help your visits be enjoyable and effective.

PREPARATION

Be aware of the needs of the patient you are visiting. Many older patients have decreased senses of sight and hearing. This means: (a) the sense of touch is that much more important as a source of stimulation and pleasure, and (b) you may need to SPEAK LOUDLY A patient's other needs may be helped by (a) hand holding and other affectionate touching; (b) sincerely given compliments; and (c) remembering to kneel down so that the patient is not looking up.

PRESENTING THE ANIMALS

1. Always ask the person if they want to touch or hold the animal. It's good to encourage it, but if they say no, respect their wishes.
2. Present the animal at the patient's waist or below, NOT from above or at their face level.
3. Protect the animal by presenting it to patients in such a way that they are discouraged from poking at its face. Turn it sideways or backwards.
4. If the patient wants to hold a small animal, ALWAYS place it on the patient's lap, NEVER in their arms or hands.
5. If an animal is jumpy or exhibits any unusual behavior notify the visit supervisor.
6. If a patient handles an animal too roughly and you cannot correct this by taking the patient's hand and tactfully demonstrating the proper touch, remove the animal from the patient right away.
7. NEVER leave an animal unattended with a patient, for the animal's safety and because the patient needs YOU too.

• Animals must be spotless, odor-free and flea-free! They cannot have any sore spots, hot spots, rashes or be ill.
• Be sure your dog relieves itself before you leave home. If your dog is an active one exercise it before the visit.
• Do not allow your pet sit on beds or furniture on visits without specific permission from both the staff and the patient or resident.
• Always keep your dog on a leash (4 feet or shorter). During the visit keep your dog within one foot of you and at least two feet from other dogs except during scheduled demonstrations.
• Be aware of what your dog is doing at all times. Prevent your dog from inappropriate sniffing of body parts, wounds, wound dressings, and medical devises.

REMEMBER: It is a privilege to bring our pets to hospitals and we should always be aware that we are guests and be on our best behavior.

TAKING AWAY THE ANIMAL

HOW THE FRIENDSHIP FOUNDATION LOOKS TO OTHERS

HOW THE FRIENDSHIP FOUNDATION FEELS TO ALL OF US

YOU ARE THAT SPECIAL PERSON WHO LOVES ANIMALS AND PEOPLE, TOO. Your time, energy, warmth and caring are an important part of the teamwork that makes our animal-assisted activity and animal-assisted therapy program a valuable resource to our community.

Friendship Foundation: Getting Started

1. Give us a call and let us answer your questions about our program and our group style animal-assisted activity/animal-assisted therapy visiting.

2. Watch our teams at work. Remember to phone and tell us which visit you plan to attend.

3. Schedule an appointment to assess you and your pet as a team.

4. Your pet needs a veterinary evaluation (this includes a general health check, a fecal test, and a brief behavioral assessment - be sure to take a copy of your pet’s vaccination records along with you). Each handler needs a current tuberculosis test.

5. Consult our quarterly calendar and choose a visit the two of you would like to attend. Any adult visit will be ok. Call to confirm our schedule. Now we can observe you in action on your first visit at a Friendship Foundation facility.

Visit the Friendship Foundation on-line store for logo items.
http://www.cafepress.com/friendshipvisit