Scottsdale BARK would like to share some great volunteer opportunities that can be found through - www.volunteermatch.org

Currently, Scottsdale BARK is active with such volunteer efforts that includes - Scottsdale Fire Department, dog-walking for disabilities, and Scottsdale public relations activities. Additionally, we highly recommend checking out the previous Web site, which will allow you to search any type of volunteer work that may interest you, (e.g., animal work, fire fighter, police, environment, health, community services, marketing).

There are many volunteer opportunities within the Scottsdale, AZ area, so we intend to share with you some of our experiences; in addition to other ways to GET INVOLVED! Pet-Therapy Certification Interested in becoming pet-therapy certified with your best friend? Would you just want to learn more about what it entails, which includes volunteer hours, places, how to get started, etc.? Currently, we are pet-therapy certified dog-handlers with our 140-pound Cane Corso—Italian Mastiff, Zola.

We have volunteered at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, AZ, and we’re about to get started on a new adventure with Hospice of The Valley come Spring 2009. We have been pet-therapy certified for several years now, and we highly recommend it to all those interested in volunteering with your dog. The rewards are unforgettable to all those involved. They all must go through the standard testing to be considered certified. Moreover, a few basic commands are required, while the most important aspect is to observe your dog around patients! We knew that Zola would be perfect, so we moved forward with the process of becoming certified.

The benefits are endless. We can even walk right into certain establishments just because we’re pet-therapy certified. For example, we have a local restaurant and sports bar that used to allow dogs. Needless to say, they eventually had to stop allowing dogs because of some city rule. Nonetheless, the only dogs that are still allowed are . . . that’s right . . . you guessed it. Pet-therapy certified dogs and their handlers!