Enhancing quality of life through the human-animal bond.

   Pets Helping People

• Integrity
• Compassion
• Creativity
• Excellence
• Fun 

• Demonstrating the highest levels of ethical and professional behavior through our integrity.
• Showing compassion for people and animals.
• Fostering creativity in developing the many possibilities of the human-animal bond.
• Providing excellence in service to our members and clients.
• Approaching all activities for members and clients as an opportunity for fun. 

• We adhere to operating and therapy guidelines and policies which are designed to maintain dignity, quality, and safety for the clients and animals. When questions arise, we work to resolve them in a positive manner that respects both clients and animals.
• We have clearly defined roles and work assignments that promote and maintain dependability for our clients and each other.
• We are always professional when representing ITA. This includes policies, uniforms, and being knowledgeable about what we do.
• There is a place for each volunteer to participate through the sharing of time, ideas and talents.
• Client confidentiality is always maintained.
• Fun

What is Intermountain Therapy Animals?
Intermountain Therapy Animals is a non-profit organization bringing animal resources to human needs. We specialize in providing animal-assisted therapy in the areas of physical, occupational, speech and psychotherapies, as well as special education. Our motto is "Pets Helping People."

The ITA volunteer program provides carefully screened therapy animals and handlers who work with human service and health care professionals to serve those in need. We work with children and adults who are physically, developmentally, or emotionally disabled, as well as others who can benefit from the unique qualities that interaction with an animal can provide.

Intermountain Therapy Animals volunteers are trained to provide pet-facilitated therapy in hospitals, schools, mental institutions, nursing facilities, detention homes, extended care centers, and other care-giving facilities.

What is our Mission?
Intermountain Therapy Animals exists to enhance quality of life through the human-animal bond. We strive to do this through:

What is Animal-Assisted Therapy?
The use of animals to facilitate positive changes in a broad spectrum of therapeutic settings is becoming more accepted, appreciated and valued. Under direction of health services and education professionals, animal-assisted therapy can promote physical, emotional, cognitive, and social improvement for people with special needs.

In animal-assisted therapy (AAT) programs, volunteer teams become formally involved in patient treatment regimens, helping motivate the achievement of a wide variety of goals and objectives. As those who share their lives with companion animals will attest, there are benefits that animals can provide that oftentimes people cannot. Research is now corroborating this conventional wisdom. We have witnessed some miraculous improvements during our animal-assisted therapy visits.

Intermountain Therapy Animals also provides animal-assisted activities (AAA) in some settings, in which volunteers visit informally with hospital patients, nursing home residents and people in other facilities.

What is a Therapy Animal?
A therapy animal possesses the necessary skills and aptitude (see FAQs section) to facilitate therapy under the direction of a health care or human services professional. Therapy animals are owned by volunteers, not by the people or organizations they serve. Dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, horses, and llamas are some of the species that have been registered as therapy animals.

We're Carefully Trained to Care
Intermountain Therapy Animals handlers receive ongoing training in:

• Handling pets in various medical environments and care settings
• Working with licensed therapists
• Working with educators
• Dealing with emotionally-charged situations
• Following safety precautions, hospital protocol and emergency procedures
• Basic first aid and medical terminology
• Handling pets in a responsible manner
• Pet health care and grooming

Intermountain Therapy Animals receive training in:

• Socializing with children, teens and adults who are disabled
• Working with frail and elderly adults
• Working with fragile and delicate patients and situations
• Behaving in distracting and unpredictable environments

After training, pet and handler teams are certified to work in specific facilities. Each team is accompanied by a trained observer on preliminary visits before they are certified for a site. Handlers also receive orientation from health care personnel before visiting any medical facility. Visiting teams are always accompanied by a therapist or other authorized health services professional.

Intermountain Therapy Animals retests and re-registers its pet/handler teams every two years. Pets must be current on vaccinations, well-groomed, and well-socialized with other animals and people.

What Qualifies Us to Do This Work?
ITA therapy animals and their handlers are registered as therapy animal teams through a nationwide program that provides health and behavior guidelines for people/pet teams involved in animal-assisted activities (AAA) or animal-assisted therapy (AAT). The program provides insurance to teams that successfully complete its skills and aptitude tests and volunteer training.

How Do We Receive Our Training?
We are fortunate to have a large number of highly qualified staff members to provide training to all our volunteers. For example, we have thirteen team evaluators:

     1- Peggy Chudd    

      2- Susan Daynes   

      3- Claire Hopkins   

      4- Kathy Klotz     

      5- Kathy McNulty   

      6- Jaimee O'Brien   

      7- Lisa Pertzborn   

      8- Becky Roeder   

      9- Nancy Rosen   

      10- Polly Sarsfield   

      11- Connie Sharkey   

      12- Jeannie Watanabe   

     13- Jose Woodhead 

      14- Jill Bryson

In addition, ITA has five workshop instructors:

     1- Karen Burns   

     2- Kathy Klotz   

     3- Nancy Rosen   

     4- Connie Sharkey 

     5- Julia Urbanek

Where Do We Serve?
Currently, ITA volunteer teams work in schools, hospitals, and other institutions serving a variety of populations:

• Children who have been emotionally and physically abused
• Children who have developmental or physical disabilities
• Individuals who have suffered severe physical trauma or brain injury
• Elderly individuals who require institutional care

Demand for the services of ITA's well-trained pet/handler teams is growing almost daily, and we are always seeking potential new volunteer teams -as well as financial support- to increase our ability to provide our services to those who need them.