Visiting Pet Program Animal Assisted Therapy Program

10/22/2024

The Visiting Pet Program Animal Assisted Therapy Program is looking for a new space to hold orientations, evaluations and workshops in 2025. We have seven (7) events per year and all include animals, usually dogs but we have had cats and rabbits, too. The ability to use up to three (3) rooms would be optimal. The orientations and workshops are 2-hours; our evaluation days run a bit longer. Any leads on a facility that may be willing to work with us?

10/11/2024

Our next orientation is 11/9! Come learn more about joining our fantastic organization. Reservations are required so please email [email protected] for more information!

05/24/2024

Our volunteers had a great time with the kids and counselors at Camp Tiger. This is always a favorite event!

10/30/2023

10/28/2023

Our final Orientation session for 2023 is in November.
Pre registration is Required.
Please send an email to [email protected] to pre register and receive more information.
Thank you.

10/11/2023

Canine book lovers will arrive at the West Bank Regional Library for another session of Reading to Rover on Sunday, October 15, from 1-2 pm. Presented by the Visiting Pet Program, beginner or reluctant readers read aloud to therapy dogs. (Please do not bring your personal pet!) Parental supervision is required. 🐾 📚

Please call ahead to the Children’s Desk at (504) 364-3664 for the latest information. Large groups (5 or more children and adults) should speak with a librarian regarding reservation spots and attendance limits.

10/11/2023

Claire the greyhound had a great time visiting the 3rd grade girl scouts at St Clement of Rome

06/05/2023

Our June orientation is coming up! Please email [email protected] for more information!

05/26/2023

Another great visit with Camp Tiger

05/19/2023

Great interview featuring Sabrina Jacks and Judi Baynes with Big Bear
https://www.fox8live.com/video/2023/05/19/msy-visiting-pets-program/

04/26/2023

We have two orientations coming up! Please email [email protected] for more information!

01/23/2023

01/22/2023

We had an amazing Reading to Rover visit at the Jefferson Parish Library yesterday. In memory of Fay Schultz, her family made a donation to the VPP for us to purchase and donate books to the kids who read to the dogs. We had 56 books to start and gave away 34! We look forward to giving away books for many months to come.

Come visit us the third Saturday of the month at the East Bank Regional Library, 1pm for the Reading to Rover program.

09/11/2022

08/26/2022

They are the best dogs around! Happy to all of our amazing therapy dogs!

06/23/2022

Pictures from our fantastic visit with Lighthouse Louisiana

06/13/2022

While our nursing home visits are on pause for the summer, our teams are getting to visit a few summer camps. Today, we visited with the kids at Lighthouse for the blind and had the best time!

05/30/2022

Interested in joining the Visiting Pet Program with your animal? Sign up for our orientation on June 18th by emailing paws4visits@ gmail.com (reservations required).

05/27/2022

Our volunteers were back at one of our favorite annual events, Camp Tiger with the LSU medical school.

03/14/2022

Tell us something we didn't already know 😉

To our wonderful teams, we are so happy to have you back visiting. Keep up the amazing work you are doing!

The study appears to be the first of its kind to test the use of therapy dogs in this setting.

11/14/2021

Our first Saturday morning Oschner visit! The dogs and their humans were so happy to be back visiting patients.

11/13/2021

Our first orientation since covid shutdown! We're so excited to start back with some visits and add new teams. We will be holding orientations again in May and June 2022. If you are interested in the program, contact us at [email protected].

11/01/2021

Great mention of our MSY K9 Krewe in Centerlines, the Airports Council International's magazine. https://centerlinesfall2021.mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?m=62229&i=718979&p=14&ver=html5

08/27/2021

We hope everyone stays safe with the upcoming storm. https://ready.nola.gov/plan/hurricane/

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important now more than ever, that residents are prepared for hurricane season. Your first step of hurricane preparedness in 2021 should be to get the COVID-19 vaccine. It will protect you and your family if we have to evacuate this year. Additional COVID-relat...

04/30/2021

Thank you to all our wonderful therapy dogs. We hope to be back visiting in the fall. We are planning on an orientation in the fall with a pet evaluation in January. For more information about our program, visit visitingpetprogram.org

Happy National Therapy Animal Day to all of our amazing therapists! We wish you nothing but snuggles and treats.