joining the pals family

If accepted, new PALS volunteers are required to:

• Make a firm commitment for a minimum of 1 year to visit with a PALS team twice a month
• Considerable time and effort are involved in qualifying a volunteer and their pet for PALS
• Commitment on the part of volunteers is essential to the success of the PALS program
• Clients, facilities and other PALS volunteers depend on your attendance
• A volunteer will lose their volunteer status if more than 3 consecutive months are missed
• Attend a PALS orientation and policy and procedure session
• Submit an New Application Fee ($40) with your application and then each consecutive year pay your annual PALS membership ($30.00 single, $40.00 family)
• Participate in at least one fundraising event per year
• Provide annual proof of vaccination and/or Pet Health Assessment as requested.
• Attend pet re-evaluations as required.

New volunteers joining PALS for the first time are required to pay a New Volunteer Application Fee of $40 which includes your membership for the first year. All subsequent years current PALS members are required to pay $30 per year for singles and $40 per year for families.

NO. At least not unless you could take your pet with you to work before they became a PALS pet. Becoming a PALS pet does not give your pet any special authority or privileges to bring them with you to work, stores, restaurants, on airplanes, etc. They are not service animals! In addition, pet therapy visits are not to last longer than 1.5 hours as it is too physically and emotionally demanding on your pet and they cannot handle being at the office and acting as a pet therapist all day long – it would be too exhausting.

Dogs and cats must be a minimum of 2 years of age before they will be considered for evaluation into the PALS program. Rabbits and Guinea Pigs will be considered for evaluation after one year of age.
We understand everyone loves puppies and kittens, however their behaviour tends to be less predictable and can cause injuries with their sharp teeth and nails. In addition, their bathroom skills can be unreliable. Please take the time to prepare them for pet therapy by providing them with a wide variety of socialization activities.

Dogs applying to be new to the PALS program are subject to the upper age limits:

• Dogs weighing less than 50 lbs. (22.5 kg.) must be younger than 10 years old on the date of screening.
• Dogs weighing 50 lbs (22.5 kg.) or more must be younger than 8 years old on the date of screening.
• Cats must be less than 7 years of age on the date of screening.
• Guinea Pigs must be less than 4 years old on the date of screening.
• Rabbits must be less than 5 years on the date of screening.
• For pets with no known birth date, the pet’s usual veterinarian will determine the age.

All pets coming into the PALS program are required to submit written proof from a veterinarian that their pet has received the required vaccinations listed below prior to their evaluation.

Dogs: Rabies vaccination; core Distemper vaccinations; core Hepatitis vaccinations; coreParvovirus vaccinations Can be single or multi-year vaccination.
Cats: Rabies vaccination; core Feline Rhinotracheitis virus vaccinations; core Feline calcivirus vaccinations; core Pan leukopenia vaccinations. Can be single or multi-year vaccination.
Rabbits & Guinea Pigs: no shots required

No, PALS does not restrict the inclusion of intact pets from entering the program, however, owners must take special care when visiting. Team members need to suspend visiting when intact females are in heat, pregnant or nursing. All intact females returning to a visiting pet status must be re-evaluated prior to returning to their placement. Members with intact males need to be aware of females coming close to their cycle and the increased likelihood of marking territory.

No formal training is offered or required to join PALS. We will evaluate all pets for basic obedience and temperament through our 13-step evaluation process.

Rabies vaccination; core Distemper vaccinations; core Hepatitis vaccinations; core
Parvovirus vaccinations Can be single or multi-year vaccination.
Cats: Rabies vaccination; core Feline Rhinotracheitis virus vaccinations; core Feline
calcivirus vaccinations; core Pan leukopenia vaccinations. Can be single or multi-year
vaccination.
Rabbits & Guinea Pigs: no shots required

There are many fabulous training facilities throughout Calgary if you are interested in obedience classes for your pet and some organizations offer the Canadian Kennel Club’s Canine Good Neighbour (CGN) program which would be a solid foundation for PALS.
In addition, if your pet is under 2 years old, you can prepare them through socialization activities.

All PALS volunteers are required by Alberta law to complete a police security clearance, including vulnerable sector check through either the Calgary Police Service or the nearest RCMP detachment. You will not be placed on a permanent facility team until your police security clearance has been received at the PALS office.

PALS volunteers are asked to make a commitment of two one-hour visits per month. If you wish to volunteer more visiting time than that, you are welcome to do so.
In addition, volunteers must volunteer for one fund raising activity during the year. You are expected to attend your regularly scheduled visits unless there is a very good reason for being away (vacation, illness, work requirements).

Only if your spouse, friend or family member has completed all requirements including submitting an application, attending the information session, being evaluated with the pet, applying for and submitting their police security clearance, attending the PALS orientation and any orientations the facility may have. In addition, the PALS office must be made aware of this as there is additional paperwork that must be submitted to the facility.

PALS currently visits over 60 facilities. Our clients are 55% seniors, 25% adults and 20% children and teenagers. Once you have passed your evaluation and met all the other requirements, you will receive a list of available facilities whose teams are needing members. You will be able to choose your placement based on the time and day of the week that best suits you.

PALS finds that regular visits to one facility fosters bonding between residents and you and your pet. We have observed on many occasions dogs that literally lead their owner to “favorite” residents and most of our pets become very excited when they get within a certain distance of their facility. It is almost as if the pets know the routine and enjoy it.

Each month PALS has many opportunities for volunteers to do additional activities with their pets. These are special visits and community events and are emailed out to volunteers.

PALS is currently funded through its fundraising efforts and through generous donations by private and corporate donations. PALS also receives funds from the United Way Donor’s Choice Program. All PALS program are provided free to the clients and facilities we serve.