Protecting Therapy Animal Welfare and Promoting Thriving in Animal-Assisted Interventions

Abstract

Abstract This case is important because the therapy animals that are involved in animal-assisted interventions (AAI) must be protected to not only ensure welfare but also to promote a sense of thriving on the part of the animal. Both the efficacy and the ethicality of the intervention rest on the ability to select therapy animals that do not simply tolerate their role, but that actively exhibit signs of enjoying it. Furthermore, all involved in the intervention must understand how to be the voice of the therapy animal in a way that reflects the animal’s free communication and allows for the expression of preference and consent. Therapy animal handlers, animal behavior experts, and veterinarians are best empowered to advocate for therapy animal welfare by being aware of the considerations, standards of practice, and competencies that protect all involved in the intervention. By working through applied examples of therapy dog Ivy and her handler, the reader becomes better prepared to suggest essential protective measures in AAI. Information © The Author 2023