How to Volunteer

There are five steps to becoming a Fairfax Pets On Wheels volunteer:

Step 1: Complete and submit an online application. Please complete and submit this application before attending orientation (Step 2).

Step 2: Attend an orientation. The one-hour orientation is held on the first Wednesday of each month, starting at 7:30 pm at the Leewood Healthcare Center in the Adult Daycare Room at the back of the building on the lower level (7120 Braddock Road). You do not need to preregister to attend and all new volunteer forms will be available at this meeting. Please DO NOT bring your pet to this
orientation.

Step 3: Your pet will have a behavior assessment.  Pet Handler teams are required to pass a behavior assessment to evaluate the pet's controllability, aggression, reaction to strangers, and overall behavior and level of stress in unfamiliar surroundings.  It is very important that both you and your pet work together well as a team in the long term care facility environment. New volunteer teams will schedule the behavior assessment appointments at orientation (Step 2). Click here to download the necessary forms for your behavior assessment.

Step 4: Certify your pet's wellness. A FPOW health certificate is completed by your pet's regular veterinarian certifying that the pet is healthy and vaccinations are current. Click here to get a copy of the health certificate.

Step 5: Attend training at the facility of your choice. An experienced volunteer will conduct an on-site training at the facility and give final approval for you to be a FPOW volunteer.

Contact us at: dfspetsonwheels@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 703-324-5406. You can also reach us by fax at 703-324-3583.