Our Critters Ninety percent of Caring Critter therapy pets are dogs.  The other critters are cats, bunnies, birds and exotics such as a hedge hog and pygmy goat.  We also have or have had guinea pigs, chinchillas, ferrets, pot-bellied pigs, fancy rats and an incredible white duck named Ms. Humphries. Several years ago one of our volunteers was a rescuer for the Texas Wildlife Rehabilitation Coalition.   She was bottle-feeding two tiny squirrels.   We got special permission for them to visit a couple of nursing homes.  For years the residents talked about the Sunday afternoon they played nurse-maid to a pair of baby squirrels. Caring Critters maintains that any animal is a potential therapy pet with the exception of reptiles.  Salmonella is always present on reptile skin.  In November, 1999, the Center for Disease Control released figures stating that each year 75,000 cases of salmonella are directly attributed to pet reptiles.  Since the majority of the clients we serve are physically or mentally unable to wash their hands after petting, the possibility of infection is dramatically increased.  This is a risk we prefer not to take. Note: Our next new volunteer workshop will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2013, with Temperament Testing the following Saturday, April 13, 2013. Please note that we do NOT maintain mailing lists of interested individuals. Interested? We will be accepting requests for applications for the Spring workshop for three weeks only, from January 1, 2013 through January 22, 2013. Please send your name, home mailing address and phone number to Caring Critters at that time. To request an application to attend the workshop, CLICK HERE to send an email or send your request to: Caring Critters, Inc., 2617C West Holcombe Blvd., Box 265 Houston, TX 77025.

INTRODUCTION Our Program Our Volunteers Getting Involved Contact Us MISSION & GOALS WORKSHOP TEMPERAMENT    TESTING THERAPY PETS FACILITIES FAQs