Pet Therapy Part VII: Starting a Pet Therapy Program
The way in which AAT is undertaken depends on the needs and abilities of the individual patient and the limitations of the facility. Dogs are the most common visiting therapy animals, but cats, horses, birds, rabbits, and other domestic pets can be used as long as they are appropriately screened and trained.
For patients who are confined, small animals can be brought to the bed if the patient is willing and is not allergic to the animal. A therapeutic plan may include a simple interaction aimed at improving communication and small motor skills, or a demonstration with educational content to engage the patient cognitively.
If the patient is able to walk or move around, more options are available. Patients can walk small animals outside, or learn how to care for farm animals. Both of these activities develop confidence and motor abilities. Horseback riding has recently gained great therapeutic popularity. It offers an opportunity to work on balance, trunk control, and other skills. Many patients who walk with difficulty, or not at all, get great emotional benefit from interacting with and controlling a large animal.
AAT does not involve just any pet interacting with a patient. Standards for the training of the volunteers and their animals are crucial in order to promote a safe, positive experience for the patient. Trained volunteers understand how to work with other medical professionals to set goals for the patient and keep records of progress.
Animals that have been appropriately trained are well socialized to people, other animals, and medical equipment. They are not distracted by the food and odors that may be present in the therapy environment and will not chew inappropriate objects or mark territory. Animals participating in AAT should be covered by some form of liability insurance.
Dogs that are used in animal therapy are generally certified as therapy dogs through the Therapy Dogs International and have received obedience training prior to certification. Dogs that participate in animal therapy programs are also trained in various settings like in elevators, noisy areas, and in public or confined locations to desensitize them from potential encounters like medical machinery, among others. The most important attribute of the prospective candidate for animal therapy is friendliness and a calm disposition.
Certified pet therapy dogs must pass rigorous training established by Pet Therapy International, Inc. They must not only pass an obedience test, but also a temperament test that simulates what a dog might encounter in a medical environment. For example, the dogs have to demonstrate their ability to approach patients who are in wheelchairs or on crutches. In one test, a metal pan is dropped behind the dog while the dog is being petted to see how the dog might react to unexpected loud noise.
Just as some people have a "special way with animals," it appears some animals have a "special way with people."