How to Get Started
All members of Therapy Dogs of Southern Arizona are members of the Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD), one of the largest and oldest national therapy dog organizations. Once you are registered with ATD, you may visit any facility in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada and American Military Bases worldwide that wishes to invite you.
Before joining Therapy Dogs of Southern Arizona, you must first become registered with ATD.
ATD Registration Process:
To begin go to the website www.therapydogs.com
From the drop-down menu – or, on your mobile device, scroll down and - click “JOIN” and select “Be a Member”. The direct link is JOIN/BE A MEMBER
Here (in large, boxes) you will find links to:
Background Check
Download and Complete Paperwork
Find a Tester/Observer - by Zip Code
Download Brochure
After filling out and submitting the ATD required Background Check, you’ll receive an
email from ATD confirming that you may proceed by contacting a Tester/Observer
(T/O). Have your veterinarian fill out the New Member Health Verification Form
and then contact a local Tester/Observer to schedule the ATD Handling Test.
Please watch the Handling Test video “Watch Our Test”.
Once you and your dog have passed the handling section of the test, the ATD
Tester/Observers will give you options for completing three required Observed
Visits on separate days. Successfully passing three Observed Visits – two at a
medical facility and one at a non-medical location (park, pet store, etc.) —
will complete your ATD testing requirements.
The ATD Tester/Observers in the Tucson area work together to make your ATD registration
process as seamless as possible. We invite you to begin by observing a
visit - without your dog - to see what we are all about. This will give you
an opportunity to learn what a typical visit is like and to meet a few of our
dogs and handlers before formally beginning the ATD registration process with
your dog.
If we can be of help as you get started, please contact us: