A Pawsitive, “Heeling,” Effect on Life

 Animal-Assisted Activities (AAA) provide opportunities for motivational, educational, and/or recreational benefits to enhance quality of life.  Many settings (hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, nursing homes, group homes, schools, day care) by a specially trained professional, paraprofessional, and/or volunteer.  Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a goal-directed intervention in which an animal is an important part of the treatment process. - Promotes improvement in physical, social, emotional, and/or cognitive functioning. - Delivered and/or directed by a health/human service provider. - Variety of settings. - Group or individual. - Process is documented and evaluated.

 The Delta Society- influence on the standard definitions in the field.  A human-services organization dedicated to improving human health and well-being through “pawsitive” interactions with animals. Mission:  Educate healthcare and professionals on how to incorporate animals into goal-directed treatment or visiting animal activities to improve life.  Provide therapy animal curriculum and training.  Inspire people to volunteer with their pets in their communities.  Empower people with disabilities to make the most of their life by offering service animals and information.  Research about how interactions with animals have a pawsitive effect on human lives.

 AAT: Therapist includes animals with “therapetic” goal-directed treatment sessions. - Goal is healing and rehabilitation of people with acute or chronic diseases.  Visitation program: Animals go with their owners to a facility and visit with the patients or residents. - Goal is socialization- reduce loneliness and increase opportunities for meeting others.  The comfort of physical contact with animals  Equine-assisted psychotherapy

 Fine motor skills.  Wheelchair skills.  Balance.  Lower blood pressure, risk for stroke or heart attack, and decrease depression.

 A 2007 meta-analysis found that AAT moderately improves outcomes in autism spectrum symptoms, medical difficulties, behavioral problems, and emotional well-being. (Nimer J., Lundahl, B., 2007).  Increase interactions between group members.  Enhance attention skills (paying attention, staying on task).  Develop leisure/recreation skills.  Increase self-esteem.  Decrease anxiety.  Reduce loneliness.

 Increase vocabulary.  Aid in long- or short-term memory.  Improve knowledge of concepts, such as size, color, etc. “The kids really enjoy being able to read to someone who is not judgmental, who doesn’t correct their every error.”- Rita Boryszak, Octorana Elementary School

 Improve motivation to be involved in group activities.  Develop interactions with the public and staff at work.

 Building rapport, increasing self-esteem, motivation and stress reduction. “In a small way, the dogs in this program are helping to stop the cycle of abuse by showing these kids unconditional love.” Paul Howey, registered Pet Partner with Leegle and Freckles

 Placed in stressful situations when working with patients.  It is important that the animals automatically react in a safe, predictable way for the safety of the patient.  Temperament and obedience training.  Obedience training- teaching an animal to follow commands.  Temperament- innate behavior when stressed.

Service Animals, Therapy Animals, Companion Animals, & "Social/therapy" Animals Service Animals: “Any animal that is trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability” (Americans With Disabilities Act, 1990). Guide, mobility, sound alert, and medical alert/response work. Federal law lets qualified people who have disabilities to be accompanied by their service animals in all public places. Therapy Animals: Not legally defined by federal law, but some states have laws defining therapy animals. They are usually the personal pets of their handlers, and work with their handlers to provide services to others to the sites they visit. Animals must meet specific criteria for health, grooming,and behavior. Social/therapy Animals: No legal definition. They are animals that did not complete service animal training due to health, disposition, trainability, or other factors, and are made available as pets for people who have disabilities.

 Certification of an animal is offered by some trainers, but is not a legal requirement.  No standards for trainer credentials and no guarantee of quality/predictability of animal behavior. Animals used in therapy and visitation should be certified by an organization that provides: 1. Required ongoing education to the animal and owner. 2. Liability insurance covering the animal and owner during volunteer activities.

 Obedience training  Veterinary screening - Animals may be exposed to zoonotic agents because they visit people in healthcare facilities. - Could cause harm to an unhealthy or highly stressed animal. - Must be healthy, clean, and well-behaved so that they pose little risk to patients.  Temperament test  Completion of training session.  Begin participating in AAT or visitation programs.

 Allows pet owner volunteers to serve people in their communities while spending time with their pets.  Trains and screens volunteers and their pets for visiting animal programs (hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and schools).  Training through workshops or through home study course.  Volunteers and their pets are evaluated for skills and aptitude by Delta Society-licensed team evaluators.

 Liability insurance (Pet Partner): covered on the Pet Partners insurance policy when doing volunteer work as a Pet Partner, not as professional.  Delta Society's commercial general liability insurance: if either member of a team causes a loss at a location where the team is visiting, and that loss results in a claim for which Delta Society is liable, they will defend and pay expenses of the claim. And you must have the skills to work well with your animal, clients, and the facilities that you will serve. Registered (training and screening), not certified. -Certification implies that Delta Society has participated in the handler's and the animal's training. -Does not certify that the team is trained to a certain level, but is registered as having met minimum requirements. If your animal is controllable, reliable, and predictable, has good manners in public places, and has the social skills to visit strangers.

 Approach the facility's administration with a plan, which should include:  Written policies and procedures.  Staff education about the program. 1. Plan for recruitment of volunteers and training. 2. Plan for testing and training of potential therapy animals. 3. Plan for implementation of the program. Start an Animal-Assisted Activities/Therapy Program:

 One treatment tool to address many goals.  Improve range of motion; strength and endurance; balance and mobility; and sensation.  Address cognitive and perceptual deficits.  Easier to build rapport- triggers communication and increases comfort level with therapist.  Universal- appropriate for all ages. “It’s [AAT] helped some of our patients talk about issues of abandonment and rejection... talk about emotions they might have trouble getting in touch with.”- Barbara Esposito, Animal-Assisted Therapy Professional

"A pet is an island of sanity in what appears to be an insane world. Friendship retains its traditional values and securities in one's relationship with one's pet. Whether a dog, cat, bird, fish, turtle, or what have you, one can rely upon the fact that one's pet will always remain a faithful, intimate, non-competitive friend -- regardless of the good or ill fortune life brings us.“ - Dr. Boris Levinson, child psychologist This presentation is dedicated to all animals, especially my pets (past and present) who have made a pawsitive impact on my life. Pawsitively yours, (I know it’s getting old by now, but I can’t help it!) Alicia Petfinder.com to find your forever friend (and counselor)!