St. John Ambulance
Therapy Dog Program
The St. John Ambulance BC & Yukon Therapy Dog Program helps create safe, supportive, and meaningful connections in communities across the region. This page is your starting point if you would like to request a visit, explore a facility partnership, learn about volunteering, or support the program.
St. John Ambulance
Therapy Dog Program
The St. John Ambulance BC & Yukon Therapy Dog Program helps create safe, supportive, and meaningful connections in communities across the region. This page is your starting point if you would like to request a visit, explore a facility partnership, learn about volunteering, or support the program.
What is the Therapy Dog Program?
The Therapy Dog Program brings trained volunteer dog-handler teams into community and care settings to support positive, people-focused experiences. Visits are designed to create moments of connection, comfort, and community engagement in approved environments and through program-supported requests.
Who we serve
The BC & Yukon Therapy Dog Program supports a range of community-facing requests through approved program pathways. Depending on the nature of the request, support may be considered for special events, partner facilities, and other eligible settings aligned with program priorities and volunteer availability.
Special Events
One-time or occasional requests for community, corporate, school, or wellness-focused events.
Use this option if you are requesting Therapy Dog support for a one-time or occasional event, such as a community gathering, workplace wellness event, school-based activity, or other approved special event.
Partner Facilities
Organizations interested in ongoing or recurring Therapy Dog visits through a facility partnership.
Use this option if your organization is interested in exploring ongoing or recurring Therapy Dog visits as part of a facility-based partnership.
Volunteers
Individuals interested in learning more about becoming a Therapy Dog volunteer team.
Use this option if you are interested in joining the program and would like to review volunteer requirements, timelines, and next steps.
What visits look like
Therapy Dog visits vary depending on the setting, the purpose of the request, and volunteer availability. Some visits are one-time event-based requests, while others may be considered as part of an ongoing facility relationship. Each request is reviewed to determine fit, capacity, and alignment with program goals.
How requests are reviewed
Requests are reviewed based on program fit, available capacity, and the nature of the request. Submitting a form helps the BC & Yukon team understand your needs and direct your inquiry through the appropriate pathway.
What we do not do
To help direct requests properly, it is important to understand what this program is not.
- This is not a service dog program.
- This is not a public access certification program.
- This program does not provide private visits.
Frequently asked questions
1. What is the difference between a Special Event and a Partner Facility?
Special Events are generally one-time or occasional requests. Partner Facilities are organizations interested in ongoing or recurring visits.
2. Do you offer private visits?
No. The program does not offer private visits.
3. Is this a service dog program?
No. This is a Therapy Dog Program and not a service dog or public access certification program.
4. How do I know which form to use?
If you are requesting support for a one-time event, use the Special Event form. If you are an organization exploring ongoing visits, use the Partner Facility form. If you want to join the program, use the volunteer pathway.