PET VISITATION PROGRAM FACILITY GUIDELINES
The Hawaiian Humane Society (HHS) Pet Visitation program is a vital link to the support of the human-animal bond.
Purpose: To establish guidelines to ensure the safety and enjoyment of pet visitation volunteers and visitees.
General Information:
1. All Hawaiian Humane Society Pet Visitation Teams are evaluated prior to visiting for temperament, aptitude, and health.
2. Your contact for this activity is the Outreach Manager: (808) 356-2225. The Outreach coordinator is the final authority on the placement of pet visitation teams; volunteers will not make the determination of facility.
3. All pet visitation volunteers must wear their Hawaiian Humane Society photo identification badge and bandana on their pet(s) during visits. The photo includes the animal eligible to visit. Please note that the expiration date on the badge must be current. This date correlates with the animal's health certificate which is required to be renewed on an annual basis.
4. Animals will be groomed as needed before visiting and will be under the handler's control at all times. Dogs and cats will wear a collar or harness and leash unless in a carrier. Other animals will be in a carrier, basket, or other appropriate means of containment.
5. The first visit by a Pet Visitation team to your site will not include the animal. This visit is for the volunteer to become familiar with the facility without the distraction of having their pet along.
Prior to the visit:
1. All facilities must complete an application form and complete a site inspection to ensure the environment is appropriate for pet visitation.
2. Please advise your staff on the procedures and schedule for pet visitations in order to avoid confusion.
3. Establish a free parking area as close to the facility as possible, giving consideration to hot pavement and bad weather.
4. Identify clients who display unpredictable behavior, allergies, phobias, or a dislike of animals. These clients should not be a part of the group to be visited.
5. Please be considerate of the volunteer's schedule and try to avoid scheduling other activities such as bingo, meals, music, or other visiting groups during pet visits.
6. The Hawaiian Humane Society does not give out a volunteer's personal information. You may ask the volunteer directly, but any information given is at the volunteer's discretion.
7. To cancel a visit due to illness or a scheduling conflict, please call the Outreach Manager and the volunteer if they have given you their contact information.
During the visit:
1. If the volunteer is required to sign in, have the sign-in sheet available upon their arrival.
2. Have a staff member available to greet, welcome and escort the volunteer. Brief the volunteer on any new patients or other pertinent information about the visit.
3. Facility staff must be available during the entire visit. Hawaiian Humane Society volunteers are responsible for and need to concentrate on the animal in their care and can not attend to the needs of patients.
4. Whenever possible, visits should be in a group setting in a common area such as a day or activity room. Individual room visits may be arranged as requested.
5. To ensure a safe environment for the visiting animal, remove low or open rubbish bins and pick up any small items from the floor.
6. There will be no smoking near the animal and no food is allowed to be given without the owner's consent.
7. Facilities that require the animal's paws to be cleaned before entering and/or leaving a patient's room, must brief the team on doing so before the first visit. The requesting facility needs to provide wipes for the volunteers.
8. A facility staff member should place a sheet or a towel on the patient's bed when allowing the animal to be on it (Animals are groomed before each visit, but can still leave hair on bed areas).
9. Visit length will depend totally on the animal, and the handler may end the visit at any time. The average visit length is 45 - 60 minutes.
10. Volunteers are required to make a log of their visit at the end of their shift. Please make sure to give them a friendly reminder to do so.
After the visit:
1. Encourage the visitation team to continue to visit your facility. A happy volunteer will want to come back again!
2. A requirement for participation in the Pet Visitation Program is reporting the visit to the Outreach Coordinator. Log report forms will be provided and the volunteer should complete it at the end of their visit.
By signing below, you are confirming that you have read the Pet Visitation Guidelines described above, and understand & agree to them.