VIPaws is an MCHA program that coordinates animal-assisted activities and therapy in the Bloomington area. Trained human/animal teams visit nursing homes, health care facilities, schools and other community groups to share the physical and emotional benefits of human-animal interactions. VIPaws was founded in 1999. VIPaws is a Delta Affiliate group, which requires all animal/handler teams to be registered through the Delta Society’s Pet Partners® program. Delta Society® provides standards, training, evaluation and liability insurance for the volunteer teams. All registered Delta Society® Pet Partners® teams complete a health, skills and aptitude screening. By requiring that all visiting teams be Delta Society Pet Partners®, we can assure human service providers that the volunteers who enter their facilities are well prepared and that their animals have been carefully screened.