Volunteer Sites
Last updated December 18, 2023
Therapy animals serve in a variety of venues and circumstances, including hospitals, nursing homes, schools, libraries, and more.
Each facility or program serves a unique population and has distinct conditions. We encourage you to find a venue that fits for you and your therapy pet(s) so you are comfortable, feel calm and safe, and enjoy your experience.
Below is a shortlist of sites and programs where teams have volunteered more recently. If you identify a location or program of interest, please contact the organization directly to find out more information.
Aspire Transitional Center
Visit with staff and patients on a regular basis.
Big Brothers Big Sisters – Link Up Program
Weekly mentoring program that explores local high schoolers’ interests with particular attention to developing positive relationships within the group and around the community.
Boys and Girls Club of Flagstaff – Teen Program
After school at the Boys & Girls Club of Flagstaff provides fun, friendship, caring adult mentors and high-impact youth development programming for underserved children and youth. Volunteer activities can include reading with a child, going on a walk around the building, playing with the dog, etc.
Cancer Center of Northern AZ, West Campus
Volunteer activities include visiting patients in the waiting room and the chemo treatment rooms and visiting nurses and doctors in their offices.
Coconino Community College (CCC) – De-Stress Events
Student Services at CCC make this a very popular pre-finals event for college students and professors. They take a break between classes and get some therapy dog love.
Flagstaff Pulliam Airport
Volunteer activities include alleviating stress and flying anxiety at the terminal.
Flagstaff Downtown Library – Paws to Read Program
Dogs love to be read to! Many children in the Flagstaff community have already benefited from the program and the opportunity to read to such non-critical, caring listeners! The program is active over the summer at the main at the main library. Please reach out to Youth Services directly.
Northern Arizona Healthcare, Flagstaff Medical Center
The local hospital has welcomed registered therapy teams in various departments throughout the years. There’s usually a volunteer orientation and more thorough onboarding process than other sites on this list. Please visit the Volunteer Services page for the most up-to-date requirements and application process.
Northern Arizona University (NAU) Health and Learning Center – Paws Your Stress Events
This a very popular venue for college students before finals. They take a break from studying and get some love from therapy dogs.
NAU Lumberjack CARE Center – Dog Days Program
Therapy teams provide weekly or biweekly casual interactions with NAU students looking to unwind and take a break from studying and classes.
The Peaks Senior Living Community
Therapy teams interested in visiting The Peaks Senior Living Community must be registered with Pet Partners or another therapy animal organization, provide your animal’s up-to date vaccination record, pass a TB test, pass a background check, meet for a one and a half hour orientation at the facility.
This list is not a comprehensive list of your possibilities. If you prefer to volunteer somewhere else, please contact any facility or program to find out the next steps.