Each of the 23 teams visit each site once a month for approximately 1 hour. The time you commit depends on the number of sites you volunteer for. SBS is an all volunteer/members organization, so from time to time they have special events that they may ask you to volunteer for. For example, their annual educational Show-N-Tell Program.
No. At the beginning of each visit, you meet together as a team with a team captain/co-captain. Depending on the type of site you pick, you can stay together as a team, or visit patients one-on-one.
SBS has a number of volunteer veterinarians who provide their pet exams at no charge or very low charge.
They will evaluate your pet to see if it is suitable for therapy work. They perform a number of temperament checks and physical health checks. SBS requires your pet be current on all vaccinations and free of parasites(if a bird, has to have evidence that it is free from all defects). A fecal exam is required once a year.
SBS encourages you to attend your first visit without your pet and go along with other member/volunteers on the visit. With your returned registration information, SBS will send you a volunteer manual that gives you guidelines on how to handle your pet during visits.The team captain of your team will receive notification that you have joined their team and will call you to answer any questions you have and give you any specifics about their team.
It depends on the site you are visiting. All sites accept dogs,cats, and bunnies& birds. Some sites allow larger animals like pigs,goats and llamas.