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Volunteer Process

Please note: ALL DOGS MUST BE DOG FRIENDLY

You have a wonderful pet, and have decided that you would enjoy sharing your pet with a sick or lonely person. How can you do that?

  • Is your dog friendly with other dogs?
  • Is your pet at least one year old?
  • Have you had your pet for at least 6 months?

If all answers are yes, and your dog is dog friendly, then take the next steps.

  1. Contact Pets on Wheels through the website.

  2. Once you complete the online application process, you and your pet will be scheduled for a screening to test the temperament of your pet to be sure the pet is appropriate for this type of job. You will need to bring your pet to a designated facility for the screening. The processing fee is $30 (payable by cash or check on the day of screening).

    Screening Schedule (by appointment only):
    • Solomons (Calvert county/Southern MD)—last Monday of the month
    • Glenn Dale ( PG county)—last Friday of the month
    • Towson (Baltimore county and surrounding)—first Tuesday of the month
    • West Friendship (Howard county and surrounding)—Second Monday of the month
    • Sharpsburg (Washington county/ Western MD)—First Friday of the month


  3. Assuming your pet is deemed appropriate for this type of work, we will discuss which facilities are looking for volunteers in the areas that you prefer. We do require that you and your pet make at least one visit per month.

  4. If your pet does not pass the screening test, all is not lost. You can enroll your pet in obedience class and try again at a later date.

  5. You will need to have your vet fill out a Health Certificate to let us know that your pet is up to date on all vaccinations, and is healthy. A copy of the Health Certificate will go into your file with Pets on Wheels and you will need to give another copy to each facility that you visit. It is imperative that this is completed annually. If you don’t follow this procedure, you put yourself, the facility and Pets on Wheels at risk. If something unexpected happened involving your pet, you would not be covered by insurance if this information is not current. We will send you a reminder when your next Health Certificate is due, but ultimately, the responsibility is yours.

  6. Once you choose a facility, you should contact the Activity Director and arrange a tour/visit. Ask the Activity Director if you should bring your pet for that first visit. We have an expansive list of facilities that are requesting visits, but if you have a facility in mind that isn’t registered with Pets on Wheels yet, let us know and we will try to make that happen

  7. All visits must be recorded online in your Pets on Wheels online account.

  8. When visiting a facility, you must always wear your ID card on a Pets on Wheels lanyard. Your pet must always wear the Pets on Wheels pet tag.

  9. If any of your contact information changes, please update the database so we know how to contact you.

  10. If, for any reason, you feel the need to change facilities, let us know and we will find a substitute. Sometimes things just don’t work out, so don’t hesitate to speak up. Also, if you find yourself with some free time and would like to visit another facility (or two), let us know and we will work with you to find another suitable facility.

  11. Please do not take photographs of residents at any facility without written consent from the facility, the resident or the residents’ Power of Attorney. You can print out a blank copy of our photograph consent form online.

  12. If you are visiting a facility and an incident occurs, it is your responsibility to contact the Activity Director or Director of Nursing and also contact the Pets on Wheels coordinator immediately. Communication is essential in a situation where there is a bite or a scratch.

  13. We reserve the right to terminate a volunteer under any circumstance where the volunteer does not have the best interest of Pets on Wheels in mind or is not following protocol.

  14. And lastly, if you can no longer volunteer with Pets on Wheels, please contact us so we can archive your file. If you are comfortable saying so, we would appreciate knowing why you can no longer volunteer. We do ask that you return the ID card and pet tag.

Remember, we are here for you so don’t hesitate to call or e-mail us. We want this to be an enjoyable experience for you and your pet.


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