Human Animal Solutions - Therapy Animals

Therapy Animals

More and more people are becoming aware of the therapeutic benefits of putting animals together with people in healthcare facilities. These animals are called therapy animals. Most therapy animals visit the facility periodically with their handler (they do not live at the facility). The handler is typically the owner. The interactions these animal-handler teams provide are properly called animal-assisted activities (AAA) or animal-assisted therapy (AAT), according to Standards of Practice in Animal-Assisted Activities & Therapy

Some people call these interactions “pet therapy,” but that term is frequently inaccurate and usually misleading. We do not do therapy on pets. The animals we work with in AAA/T come from a wide variety of domesticated animals – for example, chickens, horses, cows, goats, rabbits, even rats! – who are not commonly thought of as pets. And finally, the interactions are not always therapy. Interactions with carefully screened and trained therapy animals can be therapeutic and beneficial. However, laws and regulations in the U.S. prohibit us calling something “therapy” without meeting specific criteria, such as having a licensed therapist setting individual treatment goals, guiding the treatment to meet those goals, documenting the treatment, evaluating treatment success, and possibly billing insurance for the treatment.

It is easy to imagine how important it is for the animal to thoroughly enjoy being around people and being touched by all kinds of people. Few people recognize the level of skill it takes on the handler's part, as well. For example, handlers must have exceptional interpersonal skills. They must be able to attend totally to their animals while at the same time attending to the patients they are visiting, other patients or staff strolling by, and curious visitors. This takes not only a steady temperament, but also a great deal of skill. The basic skills that you come with can be enhanced through training, so that you will enter AAA/T with practice and confidence.

Here are the steps to take to become involved with your pet in AAA/T:

1. Get training for yourself as the handler. It is essential for you to know what you're doing. If you don't know how to interact with patients effectively and how to keep your animal safe in simple as well as difficult visiting situations, you and your animal are vulnerable and can even be a danger to the people you're visiting. The Delta Pet Partners Team Training course provides excellent information. You can complete this course through home study or by attending a class. Some local groups offer their own unique training, and some include Pet Partners training in their member orientation.

2. Obtain a behavioral evaluation of you and your animal together as a team. Your animal does not work without you, and you do not work without your animal - you're a team . Many facilities will ask for proof that you are safe to come into their facility and visit with their patients. Having this behavioral evaluation is one way of providing proof. Being registered with a national organization is another way of providing proof. There are three national organizations who register members and provide evaluations: Delta Pet Partners (works with all domesticated animals), Therapy Dogs International (works only with dogs), and Therapy Dogs Incorporated (works only with dogs). Some local groups offer their own unique evaluations, and some provide evaluations from one of the national organizations as part of their member orientation.

3. Obtain a veterinary examination of your animal. Most facilities and national registrations want a written report of your animal's health. Some have their own form that they prefer for you to use.

4. Send in your registration packet to the national organization of your choice. National registration provides you with a nationally recognized credential, a network of other people doing the same work, and liability insurance for your volunteer time with your animal.

Human-Animal Solutions offers classes to people who wish to provide AAA/T with their companion animal. Unless otherwise noted, there is a fee to attend each class, and a minimum number of students must be enrolled. The following list is an example of the kinds of classes we provide. Contact us for more information or to schedule a course individually designed to meet your needs.

Classes

What Are Those Dogs Doing Here? – You’ve seen some dogs in hospitals, and some in public with people who have disabilities. You’ve heard the terms “service dog” and “therapy dog.” What is the difference? Does that mean you can take your dog everywhere with you? This two-hour class explains the difference between service and therapy dogs and reviews the law about each type of dog. This class is suitable both for the general public and for business owners.

To receive training in basic handling skills, contact Delta Society Pet Partners Instructors. You can search by state for an Instructor and a class.

Intermediate Handling Skills – This class is for people who are currently participating in a visiting animal program. This six-hour class teaches you how to make your interactions with clients even more effective. Learn how to enhance your relationship with your dog and thus enhance people’s experience of your visits.

Advanced Handling Skills – This class is for people who are currently participating in a visiting animal program and who have completed the Intermediate Handling Skills course. This four-hour class teaches you advanced-level skills that demonstrate your and your dog’s expertise in working with people.

Spiritual Handling Skills – This two-hour class reviews traditional handling methods and applies spiritual principles to help handlers deepen their relationships with their animals. There is no pre-requisite for this class; it is open to anyone.

Teaching Handlers Key Visiting Skills – This two-hour class is for program coordinators who wish to learn and implement a powerful method for teaching their handlers key concepts in effective animal-assisted interactions.

Therapy Dogs Under Pressure - Therapy dogs are asked to interact with people more than any other type of working dog. Even though they've passed their test, is it possible for a dog to change his mind about being a therapy dog? This four-hour class shows you common characteristics of visiting environments that are extremely difficult for dogs to handle and teaches you what to do when you encounter those situations.

Starting a Visiting-Animal Group - You've dreamed of having a group of people make visits with their animals in your local hospital or school or nursing home. But you don't know what to do to get the ball rolling. This six-hour class starts at the beginning (your vision) and takes you through the steps needed to have your own visiting-animal group. The course is highly interactive – you will leave with a plan personalized to your specific situation, as well as a copy of the book, Starting a Visiting-Animal Group.

Delta Pet Partners Team Evaluator Practicum - This program is for people who want to become animal-handler team evaluators for the Pet Partners program. Students must first complete the Team Evaluator Home Study course before they can register for this practicum.

This is a two-day practicum. The first day is spent in the classroom and is required for the Delta Society credential. The second day is spent applying your learning in the real world: You will evaluate real teams! The second day is optional for Delta Society, but essential for your learning!

Pet Partners Team Evaluator Instructor Course - This course teaches current Evaluators how to teach the Team Evaluator course. See the Delta Society website for more information.

Delta Society Animal-Assisted Therapy: Therapeutic Applications Course - This course is specifically designed to provide the basic education facility staff need to provide AAT to their patients. See the Delta Society website for more information.

Delta Society AAT Instructor Practical Evaluation - This course is a practical evaluation for people who wish to teach the AAT: Therapeutic Applications course. See the Delta Society website for more information.