About Tails of Joy

Tails Of Joy was established in 1995 by a small group who were making regular pet therapy visits with their companion dogs to area nursing homes. Since then the Tails Of Joy family has grown considerably and has included teams with dogs, cats and rabbits.

Members currently visit in a number of facilities and participate in a wide variety of programs with their partner dogs. Visiting teams are registered with a nationally recognized animal therapy organization.

• Intermountain Therapy Animals (therapyanimals.org)
• Pet Partners  (petpartners.org)

Best Practices

Tails of Joy members adhere to a series of best practices starting with their therapy team training and evaluation and carrying through to therapy visits and programs. Providing a positive experience for those we are visiting and for our animal partners is our primary goal.


Full Tails of Joy Best Practices Adopted November 2025 (PDF) or read full text below.

Best Practices

Membership

1. It is recommended that any new Tails of Joy (“TOJ”) Member, wishing to become a visiting Team, attend an in-person training class or workshop.
   
   
2. All potential Teams shall join and become a Member of either International Therapy Animals (ITA) or Pet Partners (PP) and shall abide by such national organization’s requirements and guidelines, in addition to the requirements, guidelines and Best Practices of TOJ.
   
   
3. Notwithstanding Section 2 above, Applicants for Membership in TOJ by individuals who are members of other national pet therapy organizations, other than ITA and PP, will be considered on a case-by-case basis as approved by the TOJ Board of Directors. Approval of the Team seeking to become a Member of TOJ shall be by a majority vote of the Board. The granting of such application shall be for that Team only and such application shall be subject to the Board’s receipt of the following documentation satisfactory to the Board:
   
   • The evaluation requirements of their organization, and
   • A copy of Organization’s General Liability Policy, and
   • A copy of the Organization’s certification/registration of the Pet Therapy Team, and
   • Proof of satisfactory evaluation by such national organization.
   
   To remain in good standing, such Team’s Membership in TOJ shall be contingent upon a periodic evaluation of the Team not to exceed 3 years.
   
   
4. TOJ Membership is contingent upon adherence to the policies and procedures of the national organization of which the Team is a Member.
   
   
5. Members of TOJ should volunteer a minimum of once every two (2) years at a TOJ evaluation and act according to the instructions of the Evaluators.
   

Evaluations

1. During an evaluation, Handlers are to conduct themselves as if on an actual visit.
   
   
2. The Team being tested should only be exposed to or interact with the neutral dog and those volunteers as necessary to conduct the testing.
   
   
3. Distracting behaviors, such as eating, excessive chatter, staring at the dog being tested, should be avoided by volunteers.
   

Visits

1. TOJ Members and their therapy partners shall be clearly identified as representing TOJ during any volunteer visits. Members may not be identified as representing TOJ for any non-volunteer visits.
   
   
2. It is recommended that visiting should be limited to an hour and should not exceed 2 hours. The impact of travel time on your pet is to be considered when assessing the amount of time spent volunteering.
   
   
3. Member Handler paid pet therapy visits are not recognized as being conducted under the auspices of TOJ. Such visits are not covered under TOJ’s insurance policy.
   
   
4. Photos taken during a visit by you and shared in any media may not show patients’ or minors’ faces or the faces of anyone who does not have mental capacity to grant consent, unless the Member Handler has received written consent from all appropriate parties. Such written consent(s) shall be maintained and kept by the Member Handler.
   
   
5. Member Handlers should be aware of the visiting environment, the contact person’s information, the administrators who are in charge, and if any other Teams will be present. It is the Member Handler’s responsibility to make the expectations of the visit known to the contact person.
6. Member Handlers shall always observe proper sanitation procedures during and after the visit.
   
   
7. Member Handlers shall not visit in a private residence without a 3rd party being present.
   
   
8. Member Handlers should not hesitate to stop a session that is uncomfortable or unsafe for the Member Handler or his/her animal partner or the participants.
   
   
9. If more than one Pet Therapy Teams is in a common area during a visit, such Teams should be at least 15’ apart or have a physical barrier between the Teams. Animal partners should not interact with each other during the visit.
   
   
10. If Teams are visiting in shifts, the Member Handler who is arriving to relieve prior Team should make the present handler aware of their arrival. The Team present should exit the area (preferably a different way than the entering Team) prior to the entrance of the next Team.
    
    

Referrals

1. It is suggested that Members who receive a request for a visit from a Requester should, in advance of such visit, provide the contact information for such visit to the appropriate TOJ coordinating individual.

Public Events and Media

1. Unless as otherwise approved by the TOJ Board, only current or past officers shall represent TOJ when speaking to the press. Photos of TOJ Members and/or their animal partners taken during a visit by participants, or for promotional purposes, or taken by journalists are nonetheless permitted.
   
   
2. In their capacity as representing TOJ, Members should only attend public events coordinated by TOJ. Other events need to be approved by the TOJ Board.