Therapy Dogs

Mississauga Therapy Dog Division #CD1058
Therapy Dog Coordinator: Shelagh Saunders

The St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog program brings comfort and companionship to the people in our community who appreciate the unconditional love of a dog. Seniors, sick children, pallative care patients and the physically or mentally challenged have all enjoyed regular visits by our Therapy Dogs and their handlers.

The Mississauga Therapy Dog division has a membership of 64 volunteers with 62 dogs who visit 35 facilities each week in the City of Mississauga contributing almost 5,000 volunteer hours annually.

Anyone who has a well mannered, clean dog with a wonderful temperment can join the program once the dog has passed the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog test. St. John volunteers make a commitment to visit the same people with the same dog on a regular weekly basis.

Becoming a Mississauga Therapy Dog Volunteer

To be eligible to participate in our program, all volunteers must apply for membership in St. John Ambulance. An application form will be sent to you along with your evaluation confirmation package, about 3-4 weeks before the evaluation date. Three personal non-relative references are needed as well as a criminal records check. Currently Mississauga residents may obtain this without charge. Then, your dog must pass the required evaluation. Basic obedience is essential but the emphasis is on your dog's temperament. St. John Ambulance is dedicated to ensuring the protection of the sick and elderly that we visit. Our certified Evaluators have extensive experience with dogs and are specifically trained to recognize unsatisfactory traits in temperament that usually are not noticeable to the average dog owner. Our tests are a screening process based on real life situations that visiting dogs would encounter. Evaluation sessions are currently held three (3) or four (4) times yearly.

On successful completion of the evaluation, your first visit (without your dog) will be with another volunteer and their dog. The next three (3) visits will be with the volunteer and your dog. This is to ensure that you and your dog are comfortable with the program. The visitations are designed to match volunteer's and their dog's individual needs and preferences.

After the completion of these four (4) visits, you are given your white golf shirt with the Therapy Dog logo and your dog receives a tag with the same logo.

Your commitment to the program is to complete one regular visit each week in accordance with the visiting rules and record your volunteer hours and dog visits. (There is an allowance for grooming and travel time.) To sustain membership, a total of sixty (60) volunteer hours per year are required.

As a member of St. John Ambulance you will receive recognition and awards for different levels of your volunteer time and visits.

How do I join?

For more information please call us at the Mississauga Branch at: 905-568-1905 or contact our Volunteer Coordinator for an application. Once you qualify for the program you will become a member of St.John Ambulance and get your free shirt and tag for your dog -- and lots of satisfaction!