Anyone interested in visiting hospitals, nursing homes and other facilities with a pet can learn about becoming certified as a pet-therapy team at free informational sessions from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday or from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday in the former chapel behind the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls.

“I’ll have a big sign pointing out the right building,” said Patt Bass, who has a license to certify teams.

Bass started a dog-visitation program through Pet Partners and North Valley Hospital in 2004 and has reaped personal benefits from her volunteer visits ever since.

“You bring such joy to people,” she said. “I can’t imagine a job that could be more rewarding.”

Certified pet-therapy team numbers have declined locally because the Flathead Valley area had no one licensed to certify pets and owners, even as requests for volunteer visits have increased. Bass decided to fill the gap by taking training and becoming licensed.

Prior to receiving her training, she said many people expressed an interest in certification to make therapeutic visits with their pets.

“So I want to get the word out,” she said.

While some institutions, such as assisted-living facilities, don’t require certification for pet visits, other places like hospitals want the assurance that pet-therapy teams have been screened and carry the $1 million liability coverage that comes as part of the Pet Partners certification.

At informational sessions, Bass will explain the four-step process for pets and their handlers. They are:

1. Complete Pet Partners’ therapy-animal handler course online;

2. Have your therapy animal’s health evaluated by a veterinarian;

3. Have your and your animal’s skills and aptitude for the work evaluated;

4. Submit your registration application.

Bass will describe each of these steps, particularly the evaluation of skills and aptitude. She usually completes the testing portion in 25 minutes and then takes 15 minutes to go over the results.

Bass said about 80 percent of teams pass the evaluation for certification the first time.

“You’ll know everything that’s expected,” she said “I want everyone to be ready. I don’t want surprises.”

Bass has additional information about evaluation dates on her website, www.nwmtpetpartners.org, with links to the Pet Partners national website.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.