Therapy Licensed Canine (TLC) is a division of Share-A-Pet Organization Inc.

The TLC Division was established for the purpose of assisting residents living in condos or other such living or working establishments, to gain permission to have a personal therapy dog living with them, hereforth referred to as a “Therapy Licensed Canine” or TLC.

The function of the TLC Division is to certify dogs as personal therapy dogs, or TLCs. A TLC is neither a pet assisted therapy dog nor a registered service animal. A TLC is a personal therapy dog, that serves the purpose of assisting its owner in a specified way as prescribed by the criteria set forth in each case. Such criteria may fall in the category of emotional support, calming effect, physical therapy etc, and may involve the prescription of a physician and agreement of the facility owner(s) or Board of Directors. Share-A-Pet does not find and/or provide dogs for this service.

Share-A-Pet’s certification of a TLC will often be only part of the complete process allowing a dog to perform such duties as would be described. A TLC will not be allowed to perform pet assisted therapy as prescribed in Share-A-Pet’s volunteer program involving visits to residents in hospitals, nursing homes or other such facilities nor will a TLC be able to perform in public as a licensed service animal which comes with its own specific training and privileges.

Certification of a TLC will include an initial evaluation/interview with the dog and owner, passing of the TLC temperament test, and an evaluation of the residence.

For more information, contact us at tlc@shareapet.org.