Specially trained therapy dogs and their owners will, on request, visit the hospital to bring comfort to patients; help reduce a patients' stress, anxiety, pain and blood pressure; and increase patient social interaction and communication. The OSF Saint Anthony program is modeled after the successful Paws 4 Therapy, Inc., program, which has been cited as a Joint Commission "Best Practice."

Interested in becoming part of our Animal-Assisted Therapy Program?

Basic Qualifying Requirements

Your dog should consistently perform the following with one command (“dog sit” and the dog puts his rear on the ground)
Sit on command
Down on command
Stay and recall on command
Walk loosely on a leash without pulling, even when excited or in a new environment
Get along well with other dogs
Able to perform commands without treats

Other requirements

Your dog should like people
Not be overly vocal
Have no food or possession issues
Should not have separation anxiety issues
Your dog needs to be at least one year of age
Handlers must be 18 years or older
Dogs must be up to date on all vaccinations
Dogs must be free of all skin problems

*Prong collars and gentle leaders are not acceptable

Next Steps

Please submit an application.

Animal-Assisted Therapy Volunteer Application

Once an application is received, our AAT Coordinator will arrange for a phone interview to explain our program and to learn more about the applicant and his/her dog. If the phone interview shows the applicant and his/her dog are good candidates for the program, they will be invited to attend an initial audition at OSF. Here, the applicant and his/her dog will work with a professional trainer to demonstrate obedience behavior in a simulated hospital setting. Then, if invited to continue, the applicant and his/her dog will attend a weekend training session to learn hospital procedures for visiting patient rooms and visitor areas. For final training, the new AAT team will complete mentored visits with an experienced dog handler.

Please contact us with any questions at (815) 395-5064.

Paws for Healing Animal-Assisted Therapy

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