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Are you looking for a unique way to volunteer in Birmingham? We have a great idea for you, and it includes serving your community with your pet. Hand in Paw (HIP)—Alabama’s premier Animal-Assisted Therapy provider—is seeking volunteers. Read on to discover why you and your pet will love this opportunity and how to apply.

Reasons to volunteer with Hand in Paw

The Greater Birmingham Area is home to all sorts of volunteer opportunities, from local river cleanups to fostering animals in need. So what makes HIP stand out?

Here are some reasons that caught our attention:

It’s a Birmingham-based nonprofit whose mission is to improve human health and well-being through Animal-Assisted Therapy.
It trains qualified animals and their owners to work as a team in therapeutic settings across Central Alabama and Tuscaloosa.
It provides an opportunity to share your animal’s unconditional love with people in need.
It deepens your bond and allows you to spend more time with your pet.

What do Hand in Paw volunteers do?

Hand in Paw volunteers in Birmingham visit children, seniors and more. (Hand in Paw)

From helping children build reading skills to bringing warmth and positivity to people in hospitals, as a HIP volunteer, you and your pet will make a difference in the life of those dealing with emotional and physical life challenges. Therapy teams visit a variety of settings across the Greater Birmingham Area and Tuscaloosa, including:

Hospitals
Nursing homes
K-12 Schools and Universities
Early intervention organizations

Currently, HIP’s greatest need is to find volunteers who want to visit isolated seniors and veterans in the Greater Birmingham Area and Tuscaloosa.

Thanks to a recent donation from Tito’s Handmade Vodka—also known as the Vodka for Dog People—HIP will be able to:

Recruit and train 30 new therapy teams that will visit senior citizens and veterans who may be experiencing anxiety and isolation, among other emotional issues.
Expand its growing “paw print” in the Greater Birmingham and Tuscaloosa areas.

The best part? Therapy Teams get a voice in where they prefer to volunteer, and the HIP staff will work with you to figure out the best fit for you and your furry co-volunteer.

Interested in becoming a Hand in Paw volunteer? Get the process started by filling out this application.

Who can be a Hand in Paw volunteer?

While everyone is welcome to apply to become a HIP volunteer, there are some important requirements you and your animal must have. Here are some to know:

Hand in Paw Handlers must:

Be at least 18 years old
Understand, believe and uphold the mission of Hand in Paw
Have owned animal for more than 6 months
Provide proof of COVID vaccination
Provide a warm and positive experience for those visited
Volunteer on a minimum of two one-hour visits per month

Therapy Animals must:

Be 18 months or older
Be spayed or neutered
Complete a group obedience training (if animal is a dog)
Be up-to-date on rabies vaccine

What qualities make a good Hand in Paw therapy animal?

Hand in Paw’s therapy animals must be evaluated and pass a number of tests. (Jacob Blankenship / Bham Now)

Wondering if your pet would make a good therapy animal? Here are a few qualities HIP looks for:

Should not be aggressive or show fear towards other animals or people.
Seeks and enjoys human interactions and meeting a variety of new people.
Accepts vigorous petting all over by crowds of people.
Must be comfortable with medical equipment (wheelchairs, walkers, etc.) and unexpected loud noises in a variety of environments.
If animal is a dog, it should be able to demonstrate good basic obedience skills: controlled leash walking, “sit”, “stay”, “down”, “come”, “leave it”, no jumping, pawing or mouthing.

What Hand in Paw volunteers are saying

Hand in Paw volunteers and their pets in Birmingham. (Jacob Blankenship / Bham Now)

Ken Bush: “I enjoy working with HIP because it gives me the opportunity to give back to the community by sharing the unique connection of dogs, such as my Willow, with others. There are ample opportunities to volunteer in environments that you feel best fit the temperament of your dog. We often visit the vulnerable or marginalized communities…bringing a sense of hope, connection and encouragement in whatever their situation may be.”

Rosemary Greaves: “I enjoy volunteering with HIP because I get to share the benefits of Animal-Assisted Therapy with folks in our community during some of the most challenging times of their lives. I especially love watching [my dog] Fudge decide how he’s going to connect with each individual he visits. He’s so gentle when the ladies at assisted-living facilities hold his face for a quick nuzzle, and he also enjoys putting on a show for folks at UAB’s Proton Clinic. It’s an awesome experience and totally worth every minute!”

Harriet Peacock: “As a licensed professional counselor, I am a firm believer in the power of therapy. Now that I am affiliated with HIP, it is amazing to see its effectiveness within each of our visits with my dog, Herbert. I never could have imagined how much joy it gives me to be a part of this nonprofit and the benefits it brings to the Birmingham community.”

Are you ready to become a Hand in Paw volunteer? Get the process started by filling out this application. For more info, visit Hand in Paw’s website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

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