Recognizing the healing benefits of animals, Verde Valley Medical Center developed the Paws for Patients program, which offers inpatients special visits with therapy dogs. All therapy dogs are certified by the Delta Society and must pass behavioral testing to be licensed. The dogs provide a general feeling of well-being, unconditional affection, and interaction with individuals who may have anxiety, depression or stress in the hospital setting.

The Delta Society Pet Partners are scheduling appointments for a two-day Team Training Course for handlers to learn the skills needed to safely visit in hospitals, nursing homes, schools and other facilities. Successful completion of this course (or home study of the Pet Partners Team Training Course Manual) is required for registration as a Pet Partner. The course will be held at VVMC, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 13 and 14, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Conference Room C. Cost of the course is $75, and includes the Pet Partners Team Training Course Manual.

VVMC also is hosting half-hour Team Evaluations on Saturday, Sept. 27, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Conference Room A. The Team Evaluation process evaluates the animal/handler team in a simulated hospital setting: how well the handler interprets and manages the animal’s behavior, how well the animal responds to the handler, and how well the team relates to patients.

The Team Training Course and the Team Evaluations will be conducted by Dee Chadwick, a Delta-licensed team evaluator and instructor. To sign up for the two-day training, to schedule an evaluation appointment, or for more information, contact Chadwick at 284-5757, or chadee@esedona.net.