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VIPaws is an MCHA program that coordinates animal-assisted activities
and therapy in the Bloomington area. Trained human/animal teams visit
nursing homes, health care facilities, schools and other community
groups to share the physical and emotional benefits of human-animal
interactions. Founded in 1999, VIPaws serves as a community partner
with the IU Medical Sciences Healing Outreach Program Elective (HOPE)
service learning course.
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VIPaws is a Delta Affiliate group, which requires all animal/handler
teams to be registered through the Delta Society®'s
Pet Partners®
program. Delta Society® provides
standards, training, evaluation and liability insurance for the
volunteer teams. All registered Delta Society® Pet Partners® teams
complete a health, skills and aptitude screening. By requiring that
all visiting teams be Delta Society Pet Partners®, we can assure human
service providers that the volunteers who enter their facilities are
well prepared and that their animals have been
carefully screened.
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As a licensed Pet Partners® training site, VIPaws provides regular Pet
Partners team training workshops and team screening evaluations.
For more information, or to become involved with VIPaws, please
contact:
Education Program Director/VIPaws Coordinator
Monroe County Humane Association
P.O. Box 1334
Bloomington, IN 47402
(812) 335-9453
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