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    • Home
    • About
    • Meet Our Team
    • Donate
    • Sponsors
    • Visit Request
    • Certification
    • New England Gala
    • In The News
    • Shout Outs
    • Smiles
    • States
    • Contact Us
    • Therapy Dog Remembrance
    • FRTD Team Portal
      • Welcome To FRTD
      • Team FAQ's
      • Visit Debrief Form
      • Incident Report Form
      • FRTD Policies & Resources
      • Team Locations & Contact
      • Swag Shop
      • Membership Renewal
      • Reimbursement Request
      • Retirement or Passing
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  • Home
  • About
  • Meet Our Team
  • Donate
  • Sponsors
  • Visit Request
  • Certification
  • New England Gala
  • In The News
  • Shout Outs
  • Smiles
  • States
  • Contact Us
  • Therapy Dog Remembrance
  • FRTD Team Portal
    • Welcome To FRTD
    • Team FAQ's
    • Visit Debrief Form
    • Incident Report Form
    • FRTD Policies & Resources
    • Team Locations & Contact
    • Swag Shop
    • Membership Renewal
    • Reimbursement Request
    • Retirement or Passing

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Certification Process

To become an official First Responder Therapy Dogs team the handler and dog must successfully complete our certification process.  If you are interested, please take a look at the process below and download the required paperwork.  If you have any questions about the process, please email us and we would be happy to help!  


As part of being a certified team, you and your dog will be issued an official First Responder Therapy Dogs vest, ID credentials, and provided with liability insurance to support visiting First Responders in your area.  


Contact Info@firstrespondertherapydogs.org with questions or concerns.


Requirements

  • You must be at least 18 years old
  • Your dog must be at least 18 months old 
  • Your dog must have lived with you for at least 6 months prior to the certification process 
  • We only certify dogs that are trained using positive reinforcement.  We do not allow e-collars, shock collars, or choke collars as part of the training process or once certified.  


Certification Process


  • Fill out the application w/ linked requirements available for download below
  • Pass Background check 
  • Pass AKC Canine Good Citizen test (must be current within 2 years)
  • Complete the SAMHSA Service to Self-Training Course 
  • Complete the FEMA IS 100.c course 
  • Complete the Psychological First Aid
  • Complete the Skills for Psychological Recovery Course 
  • Pass a Behavior Assessment 
  • Submit Certificate of Health signed by veterinarian 
  • Provide a picture of you and your dog for your ID card 
  • Sign Volunteer waiver 
  • Sign Confidentiality Agreement 
  • Pay $100 initial registration fee (once certified a $25 yearly membership fee and annual certificate of health is required to maintain certification)

FRTD Certification Process (pdf)

Download

Certification Scholarship

If you are unable to certify due to the cost our our registration, please send us a message!

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First Responder Therapy Dogs

heidi@firstrespondertherapydogs.org

Do you want to be like Winston?

Meet First Responder Therapy Dog Winston who works in Florida.

Winston (pictured left), is a first responder therapy dog working in Seminole County, Florida.

Please Support Us

We appreciate any level of donation that works for you. First responder organizations rely on our services but do not fund them. Your tax-deductible contribution, allows us to be a powerful tool in supporting the mental health challenges faced by first responders.

DONATE NOW

Subscribe

Sign up to stay connected via our periodic e-newsletter, "Tails with Kerith." Kerith is the first therapy dog working with First Responder Therapy Dogs

Follow Our Hugs

For general information | Info@firstrespondertherapydogs.org  415-250-8107  


First Responder Therapy Dogs, INC 2100 4th Street #C153, San Rafael, CA 94901  


First Responder Therapy Dogs, INC is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit. Tax ID #88-1386472.

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