Making a Pawsitive Impact
in our Community
Canines for Therapy trains owners and their pet dogs to provide canine-assisted therapy visits in public spaces including libraries, schools, hospitals, group homes, and more in the Wilmington and Raleigh-Durham areas.
What is a therapy dog?
A therapy dog is a personal pet that has been trained and certified to conduct visits within their community. Their purpose is to bring comfort and joy to the people they are visiting who may not otherwise have access to a pet.
Therapy dogs are not the same as service dogs and do not have the same public access.
Program Requirements
The ideal candidate for the Canines for Therapy program will meet the following requirements:
- Dog must be at least one year of age and have been owned by their handler for at least 6 months
- Dog must have their AKC Canine Good Citizen certification and know basic obedience – if your dog is not currently certified, you can search for a class by clicking here
- Dog must pass a basic health screening and be up to date on vaccinations
- Dog cannot be fed a raw diet
- Dog cannot have been trained to be aggressive or encouraged to bite
- Neck buckle collars, cloth martingale collars, or head harnesses are the only equipment allowed. A 6 foot leash is required – no retractable leashes may be used
- Handler must complete a criminal background check
- Dog and handler may not be registered with any other therapy organization
How do I become a Therapy Team?
Canines for Therapy certifications last for 2 years and include access to CFT events, coverage under our insurance, digital ID card, CFT vest and t-shirt.
Raleigh therapy courses are run by Rae McCorkle with Hearts for Paws Dog Training.
Wilmington therapy courses are conducted at the CFS facility. They are offered in March, June, and September. To apply to be a Wilmington Therapy team, click below.
Existing Teams
To log in to your Better Impact account, click here.
To renew your therapy certification, click here.
