In this Section

George's Pals

George’s Pals at Valley Children's Hospital is a unique and specialized program that provides animal-assisted therapy to our patients. All dog volunteers are “good canine citizen certified” and bring an extra dimension to the healing process. Canines and their owners visit patients to provide pet- assisted activities, known to contribute to the healing of sick and injured children. George’s Pals also visit the staff to provide a fun change of pace in the hospital routine.

George’s Pals Team Requirements

To become a canine volunteer at Valley Children’s Hospital, the following requirements must be met:

  • The canine must be at least 1 year old.
  • The canine must pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluation process (visit the AKC website for details).
  • The canine must be owned by the volunteer for a minimum of 6 months.
  • The canine must undergo a behavioral exam by a Valley Children's Hospital appointed tester.
  • A canine health certificate and documentation of vaccinations from a certified veterinarian must be provided initially and on an annual basis.
  • The handler must be at least 18 years of age.
  • The handler must go through the complete Volunteer Services Program process (See program requirements for more details on the Volunteer Services Program process).
  • A minimum of 10 hours training/mentoring are required in addition to the general volunteer program training.
  • The canine is required to be bathed no more than 24 hours prior to each visit to the Hospital.