Continuing Education, Trainings, and Events
Continuing Education, Training Classes & Events
Paws in Wonderland
ITA's Major Annual Fundraiser
Thursday, October 3rd, 2024
5:30 - 8:30 P.M.- Zions Technology Center
Are you interested in helping with our major annual fundraiser this year? Here are some ways you can contribute:
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Attend the gala and invite your friends/family. Purchase tickets here: https://therapyanimals.networkforgood.com/events/71964-paws-in-wonderland
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Join our Gala Committee to help to make this event a success. If you’re ready to lend your talents and enthusiasm to this exciting fundraiser, we’d love to have you join our team!
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Donate a gift card worth $20 or more to a universally desirable location or entity. We use these in our legendary surprise "Doggy Bags."
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Be a Program Therapy Team. We are looking for therapy teams that will come to the party dressed in their best ITA uniform. The teams will be part of the program and will enter the dining area at a particular time and mingle with guests.
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Volunteer on the night of the event. Benefits? Free food, a fun Paws in Wonderland t-shirt, and more!
Volunteering at the gala, or being part of the Gala Committee is a wonderful opportunity to contribute to ITA, connect with like-minded individuals, and make a significant impact in our community. We would love to have you join us!
Continuing Education Class:
Understanding Dog Language
By Catherine Cookson, Dog Language Specialist
Upcoming Classes:
Saturday, October 5th
9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
at the ITA Office
All teams are required to take this class within their first year of volunteering. If you have already taken it, you do not need to sign up again, but you are welcome to. If you have never taken this class, please sign up, it is a wonderfully educational experience. The class is free to our ITA members and $10 for additional guests you might like to bring.
RSVP:
(801) 272-3439 or email Melissa@TherapyAnimals.org
Class description:
Dogs communicate volumes with their bodies. Learning to “read” what our dogs are saying requires that we observe the subtleties of expression, posture and movement, as well as muscle tension, orientation and use of space. It also requires we interpret our observations accurately.
This Dog Language class is based on the science of Ethology and Animal Behavior, Proxemics and Kinesics, and lays a foundation for understanding dog language. We focus on the signals likely to be seen in therapy scenarios, discussing techniques for maintaining communication throughout a visit that enable us to respond appropriately to our partners’ experiences.
R.E.A.D. Training
Thursday, August 29th
6:00 - 9:00 P.M. at the ITA Office
Email Karen@TherapyAnimals.org to sign up before August 15th!
If you’ve ever thought about participating in a R.E.A.D. program you may enjoy the training. This training is for the people part of the leash so please leave the pups at home. Light snacks will be served.
There is no charge for the training, however, following the training you can decide if you would like to move forward with the program. If you would like to proceed then you would purchase a manual for $25. Once you’ve completed the R.E.A.D. registration packet you can become a registered R.E.A.D. team for $40 for a lifetime membership. These costs are substantially lower compared to what others are paying around the country.
Please contact Karen Burns if you are interested in attending:
Karen@TherapyAnimals.org OR (801) 272-3439
Location: ITA Office
4050 S. 2700 E. Salt Lake City, UT
ITA Crisis Response Team Training
Next Training Date TBA
Email Lilly@TherapyAnimals.org to sign up for the team and be notified about our next training date!
ITA's Crisis Response Team is a group of volunteers who are willing to participate in immediate crisis situations. If you would like to join, you will be a part of a group where ITA will be able to send out any requests we receive for those who are directly affected from a crisis or the first responders who were on site. This will be 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
This is an effort from ITA to be able to provide powerful relief and support for those who experienced shock, loss, and/or grief. You do not have to be available and ready for all crisis events to be a part of this group, but you do need to be willing to respond when you are able to!
You will need to attend the two-hour training in order to become a part of the team. The training is in regards to working with individuals going through traumatic events. (There is no charge for the training.) We will also invite you to belong to an app that will better help us get the word out quickly when teams are needed.
Please email Lilly@TherapyAnimals.org or Karen@TherapyAnimals.org for questions or to become a part of the team! We are hoping for teams in every local chapter (Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Utah County)!
Location: ITA Office
4050 S. 2700 E. Salt Lake City, UT