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Consulting

Note: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have provided information about the risk of your pets getting COVID-19 and guidance for minimizing risk to your pets.
Even though we all want the COVID-19 pandemic to be over, Ann believes we still must be cautious. Ann is providing in-person dog training and consultation on a limited basis.

The Human-Animal Solutions formula:

Practice, Results, Peace of Mind

Human-Animal Solutions offers a variety of animal-assisted interventions consulting services to address your needs.

Competency-Based Assessment

We can develop competency-based assessment for both the animal and the handler that is specific to your site.  Why use a one-size-fits-most screening tool when your facility is unique?  Human-Animal Solutions’ competency assessment is designed to help facility or group staff measure the handler-animal team’s competence in skills necessary to inspire confidence in the people they visit while maintaining safety. 

Competency-based assessment assures you that the handlers entering your program (whether volunteer or paid) are both suitable and qualified to meet your needs.

Ann’s latest book, Assessing Handlers for Competence in Animal-Assisted Interventions, helps you develop your own competency-based assessment. Currently available for pre-order, this comprehensive resource is scheduled for release on September 15, 2021.

My administrator came to me after your presentation and said, ‘You hired the right person for this job.’ ”

Thanks so much! You’ll be pleased to know that is a question that had eluded not only me, but also my assistant, for several months! You’ve solved a long-standing mystery for us.”

Hospitals & Other Human Service Facilities

Therapy dog visiting patient in hospital bed

Many human services staff members (administrators as well as direct-care staff) are interested in taking advantage of the human-animal bond – the relationship between people and animals – to assist their clients. One way of doing this is to offer visits from therapy dogs or other therapy animals handled by volunteers. Another way is to have trained staff provide animal-assisted therapy. These services are called animal-assisted interventions (AAI). These interactions come in the form of activities and/or therapy on the menu of healing options offered to clients.

The presence of trained and screened therapy animals in therapy sessions can have a powerful, positive effect on people with an affinity for animals.

Therapy dog on lead

Imagine someone who loves dogs and who has been hospitalized after a stroke. This person works on physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy exercises with average motivation. Now imagine bringing in a dog and asking the person to do the same therapy exercises, but with one major difference: the patient gets to work with the dog instead of the therapist’s cones or blocks or puzzle pieces. For people who enjoy dogs, you can see what a difference it can make when the goal is to reach out to pet a dog rather than reaching out to pick up a wooden block!

I appreciate your gracious responses to me. Your willingness to step up to the plate and be there in an instant for staff reflects your commitment to the work and total support to the team. Thank you again, Ann, for being such a wonderful person to work with.”

You have a special warmth that makes one feel good about oneself. A true gift well used.”

IF the animal-handler teams are trained and screened. IF the patient is not fearful or allergic. IF the handler knows how to work both with the animal and with the patient. IF the facility staff know what to do to keep people safe.

As you can see, it is not as effortless as simply allowing a therapy dog to come into your facility. In order to be successful and safe for all involved (including the animal), lots of people need to know what they’re doing.

As a result, not all staff have confidence that they can adequately address risk management. Areas like infection control, injury, fleas, animals acting badly, and allergies make them shudder – as well they should! Human-health and -services organizations today often struggle to make ends meet for essential services, and animals don’t seem essential. Is there a way to make ends meet and include animals? Yes! Human-Animal Solutions knows how.

Wanda & Sophie Jun '12

We provide cost-effective consultation about all areas of developing a new or enhancing an existing therapy animal program. To assure quality and protect the client, therapy animal programs must be standards- and competency-based. Ann Howie was part of the team of subject-matter experts who developed Standards of Practice in Animal-Assisted Activities & Therapy in 1989, and she developed the first competency-based professional education program for human-services providers (through the University of Denver) in 2017.  Ann is highly conversant in standards and competencies. She can help you avoid common pitfalls and thus enhance staff, volunteer, and patient satisfaction – and save money.

We help you meet your needs for both people and animals. Here are some common areas about which our consultation services have been utilized:

Policies and Practices

Do your current practices reduce risk and satisfy infection control?  Human-Animal Solutions is familiar with facility needs in written policies and the primary issues that must be addressed in animal-related policies.  We help you develop complete, standards-based policies and competency-based practices before therapy animals are introduced.

Feasibility Study

Do you know how your facility’s environment, dynamics, staff, and patients/clients will affect the provision of AAI?  We so!  We will tour your facility and meet with key staff members to provide a standards-based feasibility study for your facility.  You will receive a detailed written report that includes individualized strengths and barriers, options, and a plan of action.

Very amicable and articulate speaker. Well-organized materials and presentation.”

Your joy and comfortableness in working with community groups is so evident. You are gifted and awesome! I feel confident referring people to you.”

Staff Training

Do you know how to receive insurance reimbursement for animal-assisted therapy?  Staff we train do!  Staff learn how to work effectively with therapy animals in the professional environment:  identify patients/clients who are appropriate for AAI, work effectively with the AAI provider, write AAT into treatment plans, and more.

Volunteer Selection and Training

Most facilities utilize volunteers to get the most from their AAI dollar.  We will help you add well-trained and -screened volunteers who demonstrate competence in providing AAI.  Basic training for volunteers includes the following and more:

  • Working effectively with staff
  • Following infection-control procedures
  • Maintaining therapy animal grooming for hospital (or other) environments
  • Assessing therapy animal health and behavior prior to making a visit
  • Sharing the therapy animal appropriately with specific populations
  • Behavioral predictability in common situations found in your facility
  • Handler’s ability to manage his/her animal while working effectively with clients and staff
  • Animal’s ability to engage appropriately with clients and staff while still working as a team member with handler
  • Handler’s ability to provide guidance to their therapy animal in a conversational, non-threatening way

Credentialing Body Survey Preparation

We help you obtain high marks on your facility’s animal program in Joint Commission, CARF, and local government surveys.

If you don’t find your issues in the above list, contact us for additional information.

Eden Facilities

Long-term-care facilities have many education needs associated with augmenting their human habitat with animals. Whereas an essential principle in the Eden philosophy is to utilize the experience of staff and residents, sometimes specialized expertise is needed to augment the resources you have on site. We can help you avoid expensive mistakes in animal choice and common pitfalls in incorporating animals into your habitat.

We help you meet your needs for both people and animals. Here are a few common areas about which our training and consultation services have been utilized:

  • Principle 2 – Surrender the institutional point of view and adopt the human habitat model. We help staff and residents prepare the soil by developing standards-based policies and practices before animals are introduced.
  • Principle 4 – Provide daily opportunities to give as well as receive care. Residential animals require care plans just as do human residents. We help your Animal Committee develop realistic, humane, and thorough animal care plans that can be easily maintained by staff and residents for all animal species.
  • Principle 6 – De-emphasize the programmed activities approach. Staff prepared by Human-Animal Solutions know how to fertilize the soil by writing animal interactions into residents’ care plans, encouraging day-to-day interactions between animals and residents, and trouble-shooting potential animal illnesses or behavior problems.
  • Principle 9 – Edenizing is a never-ending process, not a program. Whether you are just beginning or have already begun Edenizing, Human-Animal Solutions is here to help you turn the soil. Edenizing facilities often seek aid for their Animal Committees regarding the following, and more:
    • Animal selection
    • Animal training
    • Animal care

They also seek consultation regarding the following, and more:

  • Working with Infection Control
  • Fertilizing the Edenizing process
  • Meeting credentialing body (Joint Commission, CARF, local government) surveys
  • In-servicing staff and residents

Our skilled, compassionate professionals offer you the best in training and consultation for therapy animal programs. If you don’t find your issues in the above list, contact us for additional information.

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Testimonials

How do you manage to always be so consistently kind and understanding? I am in awe of your huge caring heart and your deep understanding of/sympathy for human behavior. I always feel safe telling you anything, knowing that you’ll listen and interpret my words in the best possible light.

You have been most patient, professional, and helpful in your remarks.

You created a great atmosphere for me. Thank you for making a safe place where I can talk about this.

You have a special warmth that makes one feel good about oneself. A true gift well used.

Thank you for the great class today. I really learned a lot! I’m glad I didn’t depend on just reading the book. The biggest thing I learned is that we are not yet ready. But we are learning!

Thank you for your time and gentleness with us today. Your time helping us all figure out how to do what we want is appreciated.

I just read your training outline after our session. It’s fabulous! You really need to publish this. Thank you, thank you.

What an energizing class on Saturday! Thanks for all of your effort and enthusiasm. Glorious and I are practicing and looking forward to The TEST!

Very amicable and articulate speaker. Well-organized materials and presentation.

Your dedication is obvious and honorable.

A big thank you for coming out and helping us with our continued efforts at learning to work with our dogs and practicing skills necessary to be able to visit. I really appreciate your efforts. It is difficult with all of the busy schedules that people have so I am extra appreciative of your time and efforts.

Thank you again for being such a huge help with my last training class. You are a natural instructor, and miracles like Conner’s amazing transformation would have never happened without your patience and input. I wonder if your students know how lucky they are.

I just wanted to say to you how much this class is giving to Mason and me already. I really find that it is a relaxing, learning time and a great time for me to ‘get in touch with my buddy’ in my very hectic schedule. It is also bringing me some inner peace as I look forward to being able to give of myself and my team to folks that are less fortunate and healthy than we are. It truly is a gift that we have to give.

Thank you so much for a wonderful therapy dog class! I learned lots and I think Penny & I both are better for it! Thank you, too, for encouraging me to look past my limitations! You’re great!

You are the best! I just do not know what is normal dog behavior. It took me this long to realize the potential for real harm to my toddler. Thank you for all of your help. You didn’t miss anything, and you have been fabulous in brainstorming new solutions. You are an excellent communicator and I love working with you!

Thanks so much! You’ll be pleased to know that is a question that had eluded not only me, but also my assistant, for several months! You’ve solved a long-standing mystery for us.

My administrator came to me after your presentation and said, ‘You hired the right person for this job.’

Your joy and comfortableness in working with community groups is so evident. You are gifted and awesome! I feel confident referring people to you.

It was a great pleasure to have some time with you. I am a great fan of your talents and good work.

I appreciate your gracious responses to me. Your willingness to step up to the plate and be there in an instant for staff reflects your commitment to the work and total support to the team. Thank you again, Ann, for being such a wonderful person to work with.

My Pomeranian, Bubba, had recovered from knee surgery and needed some exercises to help him improve his mobility. Ann gave me the guidance, knowledge and exercises to help Bubba on a great road to recovery.

Human Animal Solutions, PLLC

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