Belinda Simpson, NZROT

Tana, Disability Assist Dog In loving memory of Tana, and the lives he changed in

his role as a Disability Assist Dog and therapy pet over

the past 6 years (2008 – 2015). Your legacy will live on.

Types of Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI’s) and definitions

Benefits of AAI’s

Team approach

Ethical considerations

Minimising risk

Guidelines

Closing thoughts

Movie

Questions

AAT – Animal Assisted Therapy

AAA – Animal Assisted Activities

AAE – Animal Assisted Education

AACR – Animal Assisted Crisis Response

Cell dogs - Animals in Prison

AS – Animals in Service

Assistance dogs are trained to do work or perform tasks to meet the disability-related needs of their handlers to enable them to be as independent as possible. E.g. Guide dogs, mobility dogs, epilepsy assist dogs and hearing dogs. Under NZ legislation, Assistance Dogs are allowed to accompany their handlers in public places including where “No Pets” policies apply.

Therapy animals are personal pets who

are trained to bring smiles, joy and therapeutic benefits to those in need. They are trained to do tasks for people other than their handler. Therapy animals do not have public access rights.

Tana opens the fridge

• AAT (Animal Assisted Therapy) is

directed by a health professional / therapist who sets the goals for the session in which a specially trained animal-handler team is an integral part of the treatment process.

• There are specific goals for each individual involved and the process is documented and evaluated.

• E.g. playing with toys, throwing the ball, giving treats and brushing the dog could all involve goals related to movement of the arm - and a whole range of other goals.

AAT – Animal Assisted Therapy

AAT interventions are designed to promote improvement in physical, social, emotional and/or cognitive functioning.

I create smiles!

AAT can also be beneficial following dog bites and in working with de-sensitization and people with phobias.

AAT – Animal Assisted Therapy (cont.)

3 days ago she screamed every time she saw me – now she gives me treats,

walks me and takes photos of me!

Animal Assisted Activities are:

• The general “meet and greet” activities that involve pets visiting people (e.g. greeting people in a common room area or going from room to room in a nursing home).

• Variety of settings (e.g. hospitals, Youth Justice, special needs facilities, mental health units, nursing homes, schools, rehab units, and more).

• Less goal-directed as specific objectives may not be planned

AAA – Animal Assisted Activities

ANIMAL-ASSISTED-ACTIVITIES (AAA)

• Designed to promote improvement in cognitive functioning / reading

• Directed and/or delivered by an educational professional

• Generally carried out at a school or library

• Child will often read out loud to the trained therapy pet with minimal interaction from the handler.

AAE – Animal Assisted Education

• Research shows that reading levels increase significantly with this approach, and children’s confidence levels rise.

• Intermountain Therapy Dogs R.E.A.D. programme is an excellent resource.

Dog / handler teams provide comfort and encouragement through animal assisted support to individuals affected by crisis and disaster, including first responders. These teams are trained to respond to intense emotional and environmental situations.

This programme is more active overseas, however has run occasionally in New Zealand, with NZ victim support working alongside select canine teams and community agencies.

Based on scientifically proven benefits of the human animal bond.

“Never underestimate the healing power of animals!”

AACR – Animal Assisted Crisis Response

• Cell dogs are rescue dogs that are partnered with a prison

inmate with the goal of improving the life of them both.

• Inmates train the dogs as either well socialised and obedient companions or assistance dogs

• Both dog and inmate gain companionship and socialisation they might not otherwise enjoy due to their circumstances – immensely healing!

• Second chance for the inmates and a second chance for the dog.

Cell Dogs - Dogs in Prison

Great for the inmates • Learn valuable life skills in addition

to dog training and behavior

• Unconditional love from the dogs

• Opportunity to give back

Great for the dogs • They receive unconditional love from

an inmate who has who often has no

one to pour their hearts into

Cell Dogs - Dogs in Prison

Do you think there’s a tennis ball

in this washing?

Great for the prisons • Model inmates! One misdemeanor and

they are removed from the dog programme

Great for the community • Well trained and socialised dogs

available at minimal cost to the

community

Cell Dogs - Dogs in Prison I can just step out

of these!

Assistance dogs are trained to do work or perform tasks to meet the disability-related needs of their handlers to enable them to be as independent as possible, as previously discussed.

In New Zealand Assistance Dogs must be certified by one of the following certifying organisations as listed in legislation (Dog Control Act 1996 amended):

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People New Zealand

Mobility Assistance Dogs Trust

New Zealand Epilepsy Assist Dogs Trust

Blind Foundation New Zealand

Assistance Dogs New Zealand Trust

Perfect Partners Assistance Dogs Trust

These are Animal Assisted Interventions because the dog is helping the person with their disability related needs.

AS – Animals in Service (Assistance Dogs)

Important for health professionals

to understand what assistance dogs can do when considering the range of service opportunities being offered to their clients.

In addition to the tasks they can

perform, dogs are less invasive and have many emotional / motivational benefits. An assistance dog may also be a cost effective option.

Would you prefer a 4 legged or 2

legged helper?

AS – Animals in Service (Assistance Dogs)

AS – Animals in Service (Assistance Dogs)

Linda is a recipient and provider of animal assisted interventions and has given permission for her photos and stories to be given as examples of this intervention strategy.

Overview:

Psychological – emotional and motivational

Physical

Physiological

Cognitive

Educational

Social

Physical:

Increased range of movement, strength and endurance

Better balance

Increased voluntary use of affected extremities

Increased visuo-perceptual & improved fine and gross motor skills

Physiological:

Anti-anxiety effects

measured by:

Decreased heart rate

blood pressure

skin temperature

behavioural

manifestations of

stress and anxiety

Cognitive:

Shows increased attention

to task

Demonstrates emotional security when the dog is present

Communicates more freely

Develops better organisational skills

Demonstrates better retention of learned behaviours

Social:

Dogs create opportunities for social interactions and connections.

They provide a social bridge to the community and connect people to the world.

Seriously? Selfies with dogs?!

Boring…

Yep…

The AAT intervention approach assumes the participation of 4 equally valued parties:

• Client / person receiving therapy • Therapy Pet • Healthcare / Therapy provider • Pet / Dog handler This is described more fully in the following diagram…

Therapy Pet • Trained and assessed as a therapy

pet for appropriate temperament and basic obedience.

• May do tricks and additional trained tasks to help the therapy process.

• Loves interaction with people.

Successful AAI Healthcare / therapy provider

• Primary focus is on the client and responding to their needs.

• Sets goal, measures and documents progress.

• Not their role to assess stress in the therapy pet nor to respond to this.

Client/person receiving therapy • Current recipient of a

health/social service. • Appropriate consents given. • Risks such as allergies, fears etc.

considered. • Have a need which may be

alleviated through an animal assisted intervention.

Dog / pet handler • Primary focus is on the dog and

responding to needs of the dog. • Must have training/experience in

dog handling and behaviour. • Responds to the direction of the

therapist. • Offers ideas on how the dog may

assist with therapy goals.

Team Approach

When including animals in the therapy process we must always consider the needs of the animal. Ethical question… If the dog becomes distressed or uncomfortable during the therapy session, but the session is not quite finished and goals are almost being reached – do you continue? From a welfare side, is it ethical to expect the dog to do more than is comfortable or enjoyable for him/her? A dog will always be a dog, no matter how wonderful it may be, but if pushed too far, any dog can bite. It is not fair to put the dog in this stressful position. Do the needs of the dog or the needs of the client come first?

A number of considerations must be addressed prior to introducing animals into the therapy relationship.

Including animals in the intervention process must be done responsibly in an educated and professional manner to mitigate risks.

What are the potential risks to

the animal, client, public and the

profession?

Adult dogs only - must be registered and credentialed with an accredited organisation such as Outreach Therapy Pets, Canine Friends Pet Therapy and Perfect Partners Assistance Dogs Trust for therapy pets; or one of the certifying organisations previously mentioned for assistance dogs.

Dogs must undergo rigorous screening

Health, behaviour and temperament

Handlers and dogs undergo specific training

Follow the team approach

Refer to AAII Standards of practice

Including animals in the therapy process encourages clients to see what is all around them in nature – developing an outward focus.

Be creative, keep an open mind – Animals can be used in a number of ways as an integral part of goal directed interventions with surprising results.

Is it possible to even use butterflies?

Belinda Simpson

Email: HopeUnleashed@gmail.com

Ph: 09 215 7085

Mob: 021 374 449

Perfect Partners Assistance Dogs Trust

www.ppadt.org.nz

AAII - Animal Assisted Intervention

International

www.animalassistedintervention.org