Pediatric Dog‑Assisted Recreation Therapist

Phoenix Children's; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

Phoenix Children's is seeking a Recreation Therapist – Dog Handler to integrate animal-assisted therapy into pediatric care. The CTRS will collaborate with an interdisciplinary team, maintain the hospital’s facility dog’s safety and wellbeing, and design individualized treatment plans around the dog-driven interventions.

The role emphasizes assessment, supervision of volunteers, and coordination with clinical teams to support patients’ emotional, social, cognitive, and physical well-being within

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Recreational Therapy, Therapeutic Recreation, or a closely related field.
• Pediatric experience in health care.
• Current certification as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS)
• Current AZ DPS fingerprint clearance card, prior to start date.
• Current BLS Certification for Healthcare Provider, prior to start date.
• Animal-Assisted Intervention Specialist Certification (C-AAIS)

Responsibilities

• Facility Dog Handling & Animal Assisted Intervention: serve as primary handler of hospital-owned facility dog and ensure safety and care.
• Partner with treating clinical team to design and deliver animal-assisted interventions aligned with treatment goals.
• Assess dog and patient for signs of stress, fatigue, or discomfort and adjust interventions accordingly.
• Maintain safety for dog, patients, families, and staff during all interventions.
• Coordinate supply orders, veterinary care, and grooming services per guidelines.
• Represent the facility dog program in orientation, marketing, and community engagement.
• Train, orient, and supervise AAT volunteer handlers as assigned by AAT Supervisor.
• Recreational Therapy Assessment & Treatment Planning: evaluate patients’ functioning and develop plans integrating the dog into activities.
• Establish therapeutic rapport with patients and families; monitor progress and adjust plans.
• Document assessment and intervention outcomes per standards and report incidents.

Skills

Animal-assisted interventions

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Patient-centered care

Crisis response

Education

Bachelor's degree in Recreational Therapy

Tools

CTRS certification

AZ DPS fingerprint clearance

BLS Certification

C-AAIS Certification

Job description

Phoenix Children's is seeking a Recreation Therapist – Dog Handler to integrate animal-assisted therapy into pediatric care. The CTRS will collaborate with an interdisciplinary team, maintain the hospital’s facility dog’s safety and wellbeing, and design individualized treatment plans around the dog-driven interventions.

The role emphasizes assessment, supervision of volunteers, and coordination with clinical teams to support patients’ emotional, social, cognitive, and physical well-being within