How to Visit a Juvenile Detention Facility With a Therapy Dog

Therapy dogs provide emotional benefit to the ill, injured or traumatized. Taking a therapy dog to a juvenile detention facility requires that you obtain the appropriate permissions, but these young detainees, many of whom may have dogs at home, benefit immensely from this contact.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Make certain your dog is certified, insured and ready for work as a therapy dog. Nervous or biting animals will not adjust well to the stimulating environment of a juvenile detention facility, nor will animals that themselves need security. Organizations such as Therapy Dogs or Dog Play (see Resources) can help you prepare your animal.

2. Find juvenile detention facilities in your area by going to your state or county government website. Such facilities vary by state and the judge determines which facility will house an underage defendant prior to trial.

3. Phone the office of director or superintendent to volunteer the services of your dog. Discuss the benefits of your therapy dog as well as the frequency with which you will visit.

4. Consider joining the dog therapy with reading program already established by Therapy Dogs International to help build the confidence of those in the juvenile detention facility.

5. Arrive and leave punctually because juvenile facilities provide stability partly through their enforcement of rules and limits. Therapy will likely resemble that for children with severe burns or those who have been hospitalized for a long time. Make sure everyone gets a turn with the dog and that enough adults are nearby to keep the situation stable.

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Resources

• Therapy Dogs provides a registry for your dog.
• Visit Dog Play to learn about local groups.
• Learn about the reading program at Therapy Dogs International.