04/10/2026
We always want our volunteers to represent Pets on Wheels of Delmarva in the most professional way possible. Professionalism starts at home: Always make sure both you and your dog are well groomed and presentable when you leave for a visit.
It is also important that all of us recognize the need for confidentiality and ethical behavior in regard to all the things we may see and hear during a visit. Many of the facilities we visit have a confidentiality standard that we should know and always abide by. Hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice usually work under HIPAA standards. Schools and other facilities each have their own standards.
We aim to maintain each facility’s trust by upholding these standards. Do not spread information or rumors about clients you interact with or see during visits. Names of individuals in a school or facility are private. This applies whether you are talking with others in person or posting on social media.
The rules for taking pictures vary as well. When in doubt, only take them with appropriate permission. Students at some colleges we visit sign photography permission wavers. Still, photos taken at these institutions should only be used with discretion to promote our mission to share our therapy dogs.
When photographing children in our reading programs, take pictures so the book and the dog are visible, but the child is not recognizable. This is therapy dog Ringo at St. Francis De Sales.
