Canine Comfort

Sign up with your dog to make a difference in the lives of others as a Canine Comfort Pet-Assisted Therapy volunteer team member. You’ll comfort those in our community who need it most by sharing your dog’s unconditional love and friendship. Spread joy at hospitals, nursing homes, schools, rehabilitation centers, libraries, and more, through Paws to Heal, Paws to Read, and other pet therapy opportunities.

Currently, we are specifically seeking volunteers who are available weekdays to visit schools, hospitals, and retirement homes in the Tri-Valley. Visits take place Monday – Friday

Orientation  dates:

April 8th

August, October

Volunteer Process: 4 Steps

After review of your application, you will be notified if you are pre-approved. Then you can attend the orientation; please submit your application via mail or email, and have access to email, as that is the main method of communication after approval.

1. Review our complete list of program policies.
2. Print and fill out both Handler and Dog applications and include a copy of your vaccination card.

Return together by email, to: sreed@valleyhumane.org
OR by mail to:
Valley Humane Society
ATTN: Canine Comfort Pet Therapy
3670 Nevada Street
Pleasanton, CA 94566

3. Contact: A representative from Valley Humane Society will contact you to confirm receipt of your completed applications, and to schedule your participation in a Canine Comfort Orientation. This is a meeting to introduce the policies and procedures you will need to understand as both a Canine Comfort Pet-Assisted Therapy handler and Valley Humane Society volunteer. Dogs should not be brought to this meeting.

4. Schedule: Once you have attended a Canine Comfort Orientation, you will be scheduled with your dog for evaluations.

Please contact Shoshannah Reed  for more information. We offer orientations and evaluations at least twice a year. With our pet therapy program and volunteer opportunities expanding rapidly, we anticipate offering orientations and evaluations more frequently. If you would like to join Canine Comfort, please submit an application, even if the upcoming orientation date has passed.