Comfort Paws Team - Wichita, KS

🐾 Volunteer Opportunity: Comfort Paws Therapy Dog Volunteer

Enhabit Hospice – Wichita, KS Serving a 60‑mile radius

Enhabit Hospice is seeking dedicated volunteers and their certified, well‑trained dogs to join our Comfort Paws Program. This special program integrates compassionate pet therapy into end‑of‑life care, helping bring comfort, calm, and emotional support to patients and families.

Purpose

To provide Therapy Dogs that offer emotional support to patients receiving hospice care, enhancing comfort and contributing to an improved quality of life.

Therapy Dog

A Therapy Dog is defined as a dog that:

• Has been certified by a licensed Veterinarian as medically fit
• Has an appropriate temperament to remain calm in patient environments
• Has successfully completed formal Obedience School training and holds documentation

Dog Requirements for Volunteering

Eligible therapy dogs must:

• Be at least 1 year old
• Be medically certified as fit by their veterinarian
• Be current on all required vaccinations
• Have a calm, predictable temperament
• Not be in heat
• Have completed obedience training with documentation

Health Requirements

Dogs must be free from:

• Fleas, ticks, mites
• Diarrhea, vomiting
• Eye or nasal discharge
• Dermatitis, skin lesions, or ringworm
• Any signs of systemic illness

Dogs treated between visits must provide a Veterinarian clearance note before resuming visits.

Dogs with a history of Sarcoptic Mange in the past 6 months must have one documented negative scraping.

Required Vaccinations

• Rabies
• Distemper
• Hepatitis (adenovirus)
• Parvovirus
• Veterinarian‑recommended: Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza

A 10‑day waiting period must pass after any new vaccination before the next patient visit.

Proof of vaccination is required annually.

Pre‑Visit Health Check

Handlers must check their dogs for health concerns before each visit and document this on the volunteer visit report. Any suspected illness must be reported to the Volunteer Coordinator.

Grooming & Handling

• Dogs must be bathed and well‑groomed before visits.
• Fur and paws must be wiped before entering homes or facilities.
• Dogs must remain on a leash and under handler control at all times.
• Dogs will wear an agency‑issued name badge during visits.
• Handlers supply their own pet treats and materials.

Waste Management

Handlers must walk their dog prior to visits and are responsible for cleaning and disposing of all pet waste appropriately.

Handler Requirements

Training & Documentation

All handlers must:

• Complete all standard volunteer requirements
• Attend orientation and maintain required documentation
• Adhere to all agency policies and procedures

Financial Responsibility

All pet health‑care costs, including exams, vaccinations, and grooming, are the sole responsibility of the handler.

Supervision

The dog must remain under direct, continuous supervision and control of the handler at all times.

⭐ Become a Comfort Paws Volunteer

This is a meaningful opportunity to bring warmth, calm, and companionship to hospice patients who cherish the presence of a loving animal.

How do I become a hospice volunteer?

It is clear that hospice volunteers can make significant impacts in the lives of patients and loved ones navigating the end-of-life journey. If you feel called to do the same, consider becoming a hospice volunteer.

To volunteer with Enhabit, you must:

• Be least 18 years old
• Have experienced no significant personal loss in the past year
• Complete a criminal background check and tuberculosis test (paid for by Enhabit)
• Complete an eight-hour hybrid orientation

📍 Coverage Area: Up to 60 miles from the Wichita office

📅 Flexible scheduling