Peata Pet Therapy

Organise a peata visit hero image with Mollie

Organise a visit

Peata is an entirely voluntary organisation with charitable status whose main activity is the provision of regular visits by Visiting members with their dogs to nursing homes and other caring organisations.

Peata also provides occasional visits to business and educational premises.  We do not visit private homes.

As a voluntary organisation of Peata’s services are provided free of charge to users.  None of the members of Peata, including the board of directors, receives remuneration for their activities.

Visiting Member: Frequently Asked Questions

What happens on a visit?

When you, the Visiting Team (member + dog!) arrive at your caring facility, you check in with the facility's coordinator and they will guide you to people who are interested in being visited that day. 

Visiting Teams can also circulate in day rooms chatting to people about their dog and sharing experiences.

The areas you visit are designated by the Caring Facility's coordinator.

The duration of visits depends on how your dog is responding during the visit. Dogs can tire quickly being indoors in warm buildings, your visits can also be weather (heat, humidity) dependent and you must take your dog's welfare into consideration.

As a Visiting Member,  you are requested to agree a regular visiting schedule with the Caring Facility to which you are paired.

How do I become a member?

All Peata Pet Therapy Visiting teams are assessed and approved for suitability. Volunteers should have a caring attitude and must demostrate they are in full control of their dog and show that they can carry out visits in a manner than is non-disruptive to the fuctioning of the facility they are visiting.

What kind of dog is a Peata Pet Therapy dog?

A Peata Pet Therapy dog is a friendly dog, they enjoy meeting people and are happy in themselves!

All Peata dogs undergo beahvioural assessment to endure they are friendly and like to meet people.

Peata visiting dogs should always be well behaved and at ease in a hospital-like environments.

Committment is an essential requirement of all Peata Visiting teams as patients build a relationship with both volunteer and pet and greatly look forward to their visits.

How long does membership last?

Membership is renewed by payment of an annual subscription.

The membership year runs from 1st January to 31st December. For both Visiting and Support members, the annual subscription is €25.

Membership is considered to have lapsed until membership is renewed. 

For you and your dog to be covered by the Peata insurance policy, your annual membership subscription must be fully paid up-to-date.

Where membership has lapsed, a person / facility is no longer a member of Peata and should not be visiting / having visitors.

Why do I need Garda clearance?

As Peata visiting teams regularly call to vulnerable members of society, children and adolescence, Garda clearance is required

Which breeds of dogs are not eligible to visit with Peata Pet Therapy?

Dog breeds which appear on the“Restricted Dog Breeds” list in Ireland are not eligible. 

Control of Dogs Regulations, 1998

Does Peata consider animals other than dogs for Visiting Teams?

No, not at present.

Do Peata Visiting teams visit corporate or educational facilities?

Yes. Peata conducts visits to third level institutions, offices, libraries and institutions who request a visiting team

Is there a minimum or maximum age for the Visiting member / dog?

Peata Pet Therapy assesses  dogs who are 9 months old and over. There is no upper age limit for assessing a dog to become a potential visiting team therapy dog.

The Visiting member is usually a minimum of 18 years of age.

Caring Facility Member: Frequently Asked Questions

How do I organise a visit?

As a Caring Facility member, we request you to inform us with as much information about your facility and residents as possible so we can pair you with a suitable Visiting Team.

Your daily timetables are particularly helpful for scheduling purposes.

Please fill out the form with your organisation name, contact details and describe how you can see Peata Pet Therapy adding to your services.

What happens on a visit?

When the Visiting Team (member + dog!) arrive at your facility they check in with the coordinator.  As the coordinator you will let the visiting team know who is interested in being visited that day. 

Visiting Teams can also circulate in day rooms chatting to people about their dog and sharing experiences.  You as the coordinator designate the areas they can visit.

You are requested to agree a regular visiting schedule with the Visiting Team you are assigned.

The duration of visits depends on how the dog is responding during the visit. Dogs can tire quickly being indoors in warm buildings, the visits can also be weather (heat, humidity) dependent and we must take the dogs welfare into consideration.

Do I pay for Peata Pet Thearpy to visit?

As a voluntary organisation, all of Peata’s services are provided free of charge to users. None of the members of Peata, including the board of directors, receives remuneration for their activities.

How long does membership last?

Membership must be renewed annually by payment of an annual subscription.

The membership year runs from 1st January to 31st December.

For Caring Facility members, the annual subscription is €30.

Membership is considered to have lapsed until membership is renewed. 

Where membership has lapsed, a person / facility is no longer a member of Peata Pet Therapy.

Does Peata consider animals other than dogs for Visiting Teams?

No, not at present.

Do Peata Visiting teams visit corporate or educational facilities?

Yes. Peata conducts visits to third level institutions, offices, libraries and institutions that request a visiting team.

How do I organise a REGULAR visit?

How do I organise an OCCASIONAL visit?

These are a sample of the facilities we visit