Before Therapy Visits, Check the Program’s Raw-Food Rules
PARTNER Editorial TeamIf you plan to volunteer with your pet on therapy visits, check the program’s food rules before applying or arranging a visit. An animal can look healthy and enjoy meeting people while still failing a program’s infection-control requirements.
This is a decision for the registering organization and receiving facility. A food brand, a training certificate or a general nutrition statement cannot give permission on their behalf.
Read the current rule, including its exceptions
In its February 2026 explanation, the independent therapy-animal organization Pet Partners says animals eating raw diets are generally not eligible. It also describes possible exceptions for certain high-pressure-pasteurized foods, evaluated individually. Do not turn that into a claim that every HPP product qualifies—or that freeze-drying establishes approval.
Pet Partners is the volunteer organization cited here; it is separate from the PARTNER pet-food brand. No PARTNER recipe is represented in this article as approved for its program.
Prepare a complete food list for the reviewer
| Include | Reason to keep it specific |
|---|---|
| Exact main food and processing description | A format name alone does not establish eligibility |
| Treats, toppers and occasional chews | A small extra still belongs in the review |
| Other animals’ food and shared access | Ask whether household exposure affects this program |
| Written program response | Keeps the actual decision separate from an assumption |
Use packaging and manufacturer information to identify the product accurately. If processing or testing details are unavailable, say so. Do not submit a general factory photo as evidence of a particular food’s pathogen-control process.
Why a friendly visit has different boundaries
Therapy visits can involve people more vulnerable to infection. AAHA’s raw-protein position does not support feeding raw or nonsterilized animal-origin foods and treats, and highlights animal-assisted interventions. That context helps explain why a volunteer program considers more than the animal’s apparent wellness.
Our household raw-food article addresses the separate home decision. Neither careful handling nor a negative result from one laboratory sample creates a guarantee of no exposure during a visit.
Ask before changing the diet or attending
Send the complete question through the program’s own channel and obtain its current instructions. Ask whether a proposed exception needs documents, whether other household feeding matters and what must happen before an evaluation or visit. Do not infer a waiting interval from an old online guide.
If a feeding change is being considered, plan it with the veterinarian; the program’s eligibility decision is not a nutritional prescription. Keep the animal out of visits until the organization and facility have cleared the relevant requirements. The goal is a transparent decision that protects the pet, handler and people receiving the visit.
Written by PARTNER Editorial Team for general education. Your veterinary team can advise on your pet’s individual health and feeding needs.