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How do I get Involved?
Volunteer Opportunities » Ways To Support KPETS » Wish List » KPETS Registration Process » Pre-Assess & Evaluators There are many ways to contribute to KPETS’ vision, with a pet or without! Volunteer opportunities are always available.
Volunteer Questionnaire 
- Become a registered team through KPETS
- Become a team leader to a facility near you
- Support KPETS during special events
- Join us on visits to assist teams. Take photographs, read stories. You don’t need to have a pet to be a blessing!
- Assist in demos/presentations
- Administrative help – web design, newsletter needs, grant writing, fundraising, etc.
The demand for KPETS' services is growing rapidly. KPETS needs your support in order to continue to provide the highest quality of service to our clients and volunteers as we grow.
To manage this growth, we are expanding our volunteer base, increasing our training and education programs, upgrading our administrative infrastucture, and working hard to continue to improve response time for filling requests for services. Our goal is to continue our quality service on an all-volunteer basis while keeping our membership costs affordable to those who volunteer their time. This means we must fund our growth through the generosity of individuals and organizations.
Won't you please make a contribution to this worthy cause? You can donate here
or send your tax-deductible contribution to:
KPETS – Keystone Pet Enhanced Therapy Services
630 Janet Avenue
Lancaster, PA 17601
“The official registration and financial information of KPETS- Keystone Pet Enhanced Therapy Services may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of state by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1 (800) 732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.”
How can your everyday shopping benefit KPETS? You can help us to provide the healing benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy to those who need it, simply by shopping for everyday items at over 600 stores at the Mall at iGive.com (including Barnes & Noble, Eddie Bauer, Lands' End, QVC, and many more). Up to 26% of each purchase is donated to KPETS.
Wish List
• Laptop computer for our Orientation sessions. Needs to run Powerpoint presenation and play DVD or a video we'd load onto it.
• Webpage design for on-line database. (basic concept for dbase mapped out). Contact Karen at Kareng@kpets.org
• Recurring annual pledges to ease fund-raising efforts so we can focus more efforts on our mission of networking resources with AAT/AAA needs.
Most facilities, hospitals and schools that request pet visits require the visiting pets to be registered with a pet therapy organization that offers screening of the teams and liability insurance coverage. Some will, however, allow the teams in training to visit, but must be under the supervision of a registered therapy team. Volunteer Questionnaire
There are national organizations that meet these requirements but KPETS offers that and so much more. Being a local 501c3 organization, KPETS can offer personal connections and guidance in the form of:
- KPETS Keynotes, a monthly newsletter - communicates opportunities, needs and therapy related articles
- Volunteer Round Table Meetings – held every other month and offer a way for teams to connect and compare ideas and share stories (and eat).
- Fun presentations for local organizations – It’s like having a doggie party every time KPETS teams attend these fun-filled activities
- Practice Obedience Sessions – offered bi-monthly free of charge for KPETS teams.
There are some differences in the registration processes for each registering organization; but the end goal is the same - that all teams of pet and handler are trained, responsible and safe to be visiting others.
KPETS' founders were previously registered for years with several national organizations and learned their systems for registration. Combining the best of each organization’s method, KPETS developed their current procedure.
How to get Started with your Pet:
- Step 1: Attend Orientation class: When you attend this class, an application fee of $30 is charged to cover costs of hand-outs, etc. for the registration process. Once the registration process is completed successfully, this cost may be applied to the current year’s membership/insurance costs (year ending 9/15). This orientation session is approximately three hours long. It is to inform you about what KPETS is, what we do, what the expectations are for the pet and handlers, and what to expect when you go out visiting. We tell you about the many opportunities there are and how you can get involved.
Orientations are held in various locations.
Lancaster area – Second Saturdays of even number months from 9 am to noon in the Blair Room at 630 Janet Avenue, Lancaster, PA
Palmyra area – Second Sundays of Jan, May and Sept at Pet HQ
York area – First Saturdays of March, July and Nov
Oxford area - as needed basis!
To sign up for an orientation or to find out more, email us at orientation@kpets.org or call 888-68-kpets (888-685-7387) (5738).
- Step 2: Pre-assessment of pet: After completion of our orientation, we require that each pet go through a pre-assessment. This step is to see if the team is ready for an actual visit or if more socialization may be needed. During the pre-assessment, we do some obedience: sit, stay, down and walking on a loose lead. We also observe how the pet reacts to crowds, other dogs, rough petting, loud noises, wheel chairs or walkers, etc. This is best done at one of our practice training sessions held every Tuesday (except 5th one of the month) at 7 pm at the Mennonite Home in Lancaster. Pre-assessments are also done Palmyra and York/Hanover areas as well.
- Step 3: After completion of a successful pre-assessment, you will join us on two actual visits with one of our evaluators for on-the-job training and evaluation. We prefer you go with a different evaluator for each visit. The reason is to confirm the teams’ readiness to become registered. (When you are ready for your evaluations, you can find their phone and emails in your orientation packet or on the KPETS Forum at http\\forum.kpets.org. Register as a user on the forum and wait for your approval email (may take a 24-48 hours) for access to evaluator info and and konnections with other KPETS teams and resources.)
- Step 4: After all the above measures are met successfully, all required paperwork needs to be completed and submitted for processing. You will then receive a certificate of completion and your nametag. You will also receive a letter instating your liability insurance for coverage through September 15.
Again, to attend an orientation, email us at orientation@kpets.org or call 888-68-kpets (888-685-7387) (5738)
If you have any questions or would like to start the process of becoming a registered KPETS Therapy Team, please contact us.
For Pre-assess:
• Contact: To schedule a pre-assess appointment, contact Jenny Rule - konnections@kpets.org | 717.808. 0143
Evaluators: When you are ready for your evaluations, set up two on-site evals with two different evaluators below. Their contact info is also in your orientation packet or on the KPETS Forum at http\\forum.kpets.org. The forum also has lots of information and resources available regarding KPETS and pet therapy practices. Register as a user on the forum and wait for your approval email (may take a 24-48 hours) for access. It's a great place to 'konnnect!'
Lancaster Area:
• Wendy McKelvy 717-575-1278 or training@kpets.org
• Nicole Byers 717-314-2662 or nicoleb@kpets.org
• Jody Rosser 717-725-4522 or jodyr@kpets.org
• Leanne Spurlin 717-898-6418 or lspurlin28@yahoo.com
Etown + Area:
• Laura Whitman 717-368-9993 or lauraw@kpets.org
• Sue Schreffler 717-926-3304 or orientation@kpets.org
• Mary Gottfried 1 717-361-2507 or maryg@kpets.org
York Area
• Fran Holt 717-292-5743 or franh@kpets.org
• Harriet Homback 717-266-2163 or harrieth@kpets.org
Hanover Area
• Margie Smith 717- 624-4742 or margies@kpets.org
• Donna Gomer 717-630-2362 donnag@kpets.org
Oxford Area:
• Bill Townsend 610-932-4401 or billt@kpets.org
Harrisburg/West Area
• Denise Procious 717-319-4242 or denisep@kpets.org
• Cindy Wilson 717-589-3734 or cindyw@kpets.org
Ephrata Area:
• Karen Sage 717-859-3044 or karens@kpets.org
• Jolene Newcomer 717-733-4024 or jolenen@kpets.org
Clearfield County:
• Shari Trythall (curwensville) sharit@kpets.org
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