NATIONAL:
What Universities offer AAA/AAT Degree & Certification Programs?
What types of credentials are available in the field?
Where can I find University-based Human Animal Bond Centers?
How do I contact University Programs and Other Organizations that offer education in Equine Therapy?
What organizations offer National AAT Related Conferences?
What other organizations across the country that offer AAT internships or classes?

ANIMAL:
Why should I study animal behavior if I'm interested in AAT?
How do I learn more about animal behavior?
What types of animals can be registered to do AAT work?
Can wild or exotic animals be utilized in AAT?
How do I get my animal tested and registered as a therapy animal?
What are the similarities and differences between these national organizations?
I would like to work with horses. What are my options?

LOCAL:
Where can I find a Therapy animal group to volunteer with in Minneapolis/St. Paul?
How can my child get involved in MN LINC programs and services?
How do I volunteer or arrange an internship opportunity with MN LINC?
How do I become an AAA/AAT volunteer?
Where can I get help for animal behavior problems if I live in Minnesota?

What are some terms/abbreviations I should know when researching this field?

AAA - Animal-Assisted Activities
AAE - Animal-Assisted Education
AAT - Animal-Assisted Therapy
APDT - Association of Pet Dog Trainers
Bond-Centered Practice - Veterinarian clinics and doctors who offer a type of veterinary care that emphasizes the human-animal bond.
CGC - Canine Good Citizen test
Clicker Training - Positive-reinforced behavior training based on operant conditioning whereby an animal learns to associate a sound, such as a click or whistle, with a reward.
EAT - Equine-Assisted Therapy
EEL - Equine Experiential Learning
EFMHA - Equine-Facilitated Mental Health Association
EAP - Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy
EFP - Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy
HAB - Human-Animal Bond. "The human-animal bond is a mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and other animals that is influenced by behaviors that are essential to the health and well being of both. This includes, but is not limited to, emotional, psychological, and physical interactions of people, other animals and the environment. The veterinarian's role in the human-animal bond is to maximize the potentials of this relationship between people and other animals." Statement from the AVMA Committee on The Human-Animal Bond in JAVMA vol. 212, No. 11, p 1675, June 1, 1998.
Hippotherapy - Physical therapy through the movement of the horse
The "Link" - Refers to the "link" or correlation that has been discovered where one who commits acts of animal cruelty and neglect may later commit abuse towards humans.
NARHA - North American Riding for the Handicapped
PAT/PFT - Pet-Assisted Therapy / Pet-Facilitated Therapy: Both of these terms are outdated and even though they are still widely used, they do not reflect the direction of the profession in selecting AAA/AAT as its main terminology.
TTouch - Tellington-Touch. A form of body awareness developed by Linda Tellington-Jones.
Therapeutic Riding - A term often found in conjunction with hippotherapy and EFP.
Use - It is fairly common to see or hear that "animals are used" in whatever form of AAA/T one practices. We encourage you to see animals as unique and independent beings. They are not tools or props and thereby, cannot be "used" in the same way one might use a pencil. Instead, we "partner", "collaborate", or "work with" animals in AAA/T.
Zoonosis - Diseases that can be transmitted from animals to people, or from people to animals.

Where do I find periodical materials and research articles on AAT & the Human-Animal Bond?
Anthrozoos: A multidisciplinary Journal on the interactions of people, animals and nature.
Human Animal Bond Pet Therapy Web Links & Resources
Latham Foundation
Psychologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
Society & Animals: Journal of Human Animal Relations
Society for Companion Animal Studies

What are some resource books on AAT?

GENERAL:
Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy: Theoretical Foundations and Guidelines for Practice, 2000, edited by Aubrey Fine.

Volunteering With Your Pet: How to Get Involved in Animal Assisted Therapy With Any Kind of Pet, by Mary R Burch, 1996, Howell Book House.

Standards of Practice for Animal-Assisted Activities & Therapy, Published by The Delta Society, 1996.

Pet Partners Introductory Animal Handler Skills Course for Animal-Assisted Activities & Therapy, Home Study Course To Become A Therapy Dog/ Animal, also includes video, Available through The Delta Society.

Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others, by Kathy Dimond Davis, 1992, Howell Book House.

Good For Your Animals, Good For You: How to Live and Work With Animals in Activity and Therapy Programs and Stay Healthy, by David Walter-Toews and Andrea Ellis. Available through the Delta Society.

Nature as a Guide, by Linda Lloyd Nebbe, 1995 (Second Edition). Educational Media Corporation.

Animal-Assisted Therapy: A Guide for Health Care Professionals and Volunteers, by Shari Bernard, OTR, 1995. Published by Therapet LLC, PO Box 1696, White House, TX, Phone: (903) 510-7181.

Bring Me the Ocean, by Rebecca Reynolds, MS, OTR/L. Contact reynoldsweil@stny.rr.com.

HELPING PROFESSION SPECIFIC:
Why the Wild Things Are: Animals in the Lives of Children, by Gail Melson, 2001.

Dogs Helping Kids With Feelings, by Terry Vinocur.

Children and Animals: Social Development and Our Connection to Other Species, by Gene Myers, Olin Eugene Myers, 1998.

Equine Facilitated Mental Health: A Field Guide for Practice, 2nd Edition, by Isabella McDaniel and Leslie Moreau, 2000. Contact boo@ponyfarm.com or legends@gvtc.com.

The 12 Strides of Horsemanship, by Kat Zilboorg, contact at katzilboorg@adelphia.net.

Pet-Oriented Child Psychotherapy, by Boris Levinson, 1968.

The Handbook on Equine Experiential Learning, by Barbara Rector, 2001. Contact bkrector@earthlink.net.

MN LINC Manuals — Available through MN LYNC, click HERE to learn more.

What are Four Basic Steps to achieve before utilizing any animal in AAT programming?

Ethical issues regarding animal welfare in AAT programming and guidelines pertaining to the animals utilized in various AAT programs need to be calculated and addressed before AAT programming even begins!

Dogs must be at least one year of age and preferably older before they can be incorporated into the therapy setting.
Any companion animal utilized by a clinician/therapist in a therapy environment must be evaluated by a trained therapy animal evaluator and officially registered with one of the national therapy animal organizations that test and register therapy animals and their handlers. This is to insure that the animal is of suitable temperament and disposition to work in your specific therapy environment. These animals should be re-evaluated every 2 years by a therapy animal evaluator to be sure that they are still temperamentally and physically suitable to continue doing therapy work.
All animals involved in AAT programming must be in peak physical health and on a wellness program with a veterinarian.
Prior to bringing the animals into your facility/program policies and procedures must be established regarding the utilization of animals in your environment. These need to include guidelines and specific actions to be taken that safeguard the psychological and physiological needs of the animal in your environment. These should be written in cooperation with a veterinarian or animal behaviorist.

How do I get a job in AAT?
AAT is really one "modality" or technique that a certified/licensed/degreed human health or helping professional utilizes within the scope of his/her profession. In many therapy settings, the human health or helping professional works in conjunction with a volunteer or paid animal handler and a registered therapy animal to accomplish the therapeutic goals that are established for the client or patient receiving therapy. In order to work as a paid professional in the AAT field, you need to have a degree/license in a human health or helping profession area such as Occupational or Physical Therapy, Social Work, Psychology, Education, Recreational Therapy, Speech Language Clinician, Counselor, Registered Nurse, etc. If you are interested in working with animals in an AAT capacity, it is recommended that you seek a degree in one of the above professions. It also is advisable to seek additional educational opportunities specifically on AAT, animal behavior, training techniques and applications through available workshops, continuing education, certification courses, or master degree programs offered through credible universities or AAT organizations.

Other areas of training and occupational experience could also prove to be highly enlightening and helpful to your overall AAT career decision. Some other areas to explore for these experiences include pet shops, kennels, farms, veterinary clinics, zoos and humane societies. It is also very important to be well versed in your understanding of the client population you wish to work with as well as the animals you wish to utilize to reach them. For example, if you want to work with seniors in a nursing home environment utilizing dogs, you should strive to learn as much as there is to be known about both populations. Do not limit your research to only what is deemed socially acceptable for that field at the time. The historical background, theory, and ethics that helped to form that area of expertise are important foundations to include as a part of your knowledge base in order to make the best informed decisions. For example, the dog training profession has seen a tremendous amount of change in their training techniques over the past 15 years. Positive reinforcement techniques with dogs working in the field of AAT, such as clicker training, have surpassed older "traditional" methods of training that utilize shock collars and choke chains. An AAT professional should, however, understand how all these methods work and why they differ from one another. Another way to come to a better understanding of this might be to take a class at a university in behavioral psychology or animal behavior, if such classes are offered.

Another important aspect to consider before entering the field of AAT is your interest and ability to work with all kinds of people. It is not enough to just love animals! "People skills" are just as important as animal knowledge and handling skills in the field of Animal-Assisted Therapy. In order to be very proficient at your job you really need to be able to effectively communicate and relay information to the "humans" you wish to reach out to. These include both your clients in your therapy sessions as well as other staff and family members that also work with your clients. You will also inevitably be speaking to other professionals within and outside your field about the work you are doing in AAT. One book we highly recommend for anyone interested in this field to read is the Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy: Theoretical Foundations and Guidelines for Practice, 2000, edited by Aubrey Fine.

What Universities offer AAA/AAT Degree & Certification Programs?

Only a few advanced degree programs specifically include AAT as part of their coursework. Information about those programs follows. There may be additional educational programs not included here and contact information may have changed.

DePaul University,
School for New Learning (SNL), Chicago, IL
People, Animals, Nature, Inc.
1820 Princeton Circle
Naperville, Illinois 60565
Contact: Debbie Coultis
Phone: 630-369-8328
E-mail: PAN@pan-inc.org
Comments: Offers Certificate Program in Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT). PAN works in collaboration with the SNL Master of Arts Program in Applied Professional Studies at DePaul University. Students may apply work completed in the PAN Certificate Program toward fulfilling requirements in the SNL-MA program, including a concentration in animal-assisted therapy or related areas.

Camden County College
P.O. Box 200, College Drive
Blackwood, NJ 08012.
Contact: Dr. Phil Arkow
E-mail: arkowpets@snip.net
Comments: Certificate program in Animal-Assisted Activities and Therapy.

Virginia Tech - CENTAUR Program
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences
Duck Pond Drive (0442)
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Contact: Hanna Marie Suthers-McCabe, DVM
Phone: 540-231-7133
Email: msuthers@vt.edu

Harcum College
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010.
Phone: 610-526-6100.
Comments: Certificate program in Animal-Assisted Therapy and Education.

Mercy College
555 Broadway
Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
Phone: 914-693-7600
Email: Admission@MerLin.Mercynet.edu
Comments: Four-year B.S. degree in Veterinary Technology with Special Program in Pet-Assisted Therapy*
(*See terminology section regarding this phrase)

Tufts Center for Animals and Public Policy
200 Westboro Road
North Grafton, MA 01536
Contact: Gary Patronek, VMD, PhD
School of Veterinary Medicine
Phone: 508-839-5302, ext. 4708
Comments: Master of Science program in animals and public policy.



How do I contact University Programs and Other Organizations that offer education in Equine-Assisted Interventions?

Adventures in Awareness
2170 North Deer Creek Place
Tucson, AZ 85749
E-mail: info@adventuresinawareness.net
Comments: These workshops help individuals develop awareness and expand consciousness while enhancing an individual's self-confidence through work with horses.

Animal Systems
377 E Main Street
Fredonia, NY 14063
Phone: 716.672.6234
E-mail: mfredrickson@animalsystems.org
Comments: It is a teaching and research center established to train health and education professionals in partnering with animals and natural settings in therapy and education.

Centenary College
400 Jefferson Street
Hackettstown, NJ 07840
Contact: Dr. Octavia Brown
Phone: 908-852-1400, ext. 2174
Comments: Four-year B.S. in Equine Studies and elective as Therapeutic Riding Instructor.

Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA)
P.O. Box 993
Santaquin, Utah 84655
Toll free: 1-877-858-4600 Direct phone: (801) 754-0607
Comments: Provides trainings for certification in the field of EAP.

Equine Facilitated Mental Health Association (EFMHA)
PO Box 33150
Denver, CO 80233.
Phone: 800-369-7433
Comments: Provides training and education of others to work with the horse in the treatment of people with emotional, behavioral, social, mental, physical and/or spiritual needs.

Horse Power
13 Pony Farm Lane
Temple, NH 03084
Phone: 603-654-6308
Comments: One of the largest therapeutic riding programs in New England. NARHA accredited.

North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA)
PO Box 33150
Denver, CO 80233
Phone: 800-369-7433
Comments: NARHA has approved four therapeutic riding instructor training courses, held at NARHA-member centers in California, Connecticut, South Carolina, and Texas.

St. Andrews Presbyterian College
1700 Dogwood Mile
Laurinburg, SC 28352
Phone: 910-277-5243
Comment: Four-year B.A. degree in Therapeutic Riding.

University of Findlay
1000 North Main
Findlay, OH 45840
Contact: Ms. Robin Koehler
Phone: 419-424-4856
Comments: Four-year Bachelor of Science Degree in Equestrian Studies, which includes an Introduction to Therapeutic Riding course.

Western Michigan University
Graduate Certificate Program in Hippotherapy
Department of Occupational Therapy
Western Michigan University
1903 West Michigan Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
Phone: 616-387-7273
Comments: Distance Learning Program in Hippotherapy

What organizations offer National AAT Related Conferences?
American Humane Association (AHA)
Delta Society
Horses and Healing: Equine Facilitated Mental Health
Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)
International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations (IAHAIO)
Michigan State University
North American Riding for the Handicapped (NARHA)
Tufts Animal Expo
What other organizations across the country offer AAT internships or classes?
Answer: Contact the following organizations for their information:

Animals As Intermediaries
Animal Systems
The Assistance Dog Institute
CENTAUR - Virginia Tech University. Email: msuthers@vt.edu
Center for the Human Animal Bond- Purdue University
Delta Society
EAGALA -The Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association
Green Chimneys
Horse Time : Practica/internships only in equine-facilitated psychotherapy.
North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA)
P.A.N.
Tufts University
Wordsworth, New Britain, PA

Why should I study animal behavior if I'm interested in AAT?
If you are an professional that wishes to utilize AAT in your practice it is essential that both you and your animal handlers have comprehensive behavior knowledge of the animals you wish to work with in your sessions. Animals cannot tell you directly what is bothering them or if they are feeling uncomfortable unless you are adept at reading their body language. It is essential that the AAT professional or handlers are knowledgeable regarding what the animal's stress signals are to assist in knowing when a session may need to end. This is to insure the safety and well being of both your AAT animal partners and your clients.

In the field of mental health and AAT, being able to connect an animal's behavior to similar human behaviors and actions becomes the metaphorical transference that assists the therapeutic relationship. If you, as the AAT practitioner, do not understand animal behavior, then you will not be able to properly assist the client in deciphering what the animal is communicating to you through it's behaviors. In turn, if the client can learn to accurately read and interpret animal body language, they may be more apt to give careful consideration to their own behavior and communication issues.

How do I learn more about animal behavior?
You can start by taking classes in animal behavior if a local university offers these courses (see University Resources). Read books on animal behavior and training. You can also learn a lot by volunteering or interning with knowledgeable animal professionals in the animal area of which you are interested.
Animal Behavior Society (ABS)
Association for the Study of Animal Behavior
Association of Companion Animal Behavior Counselors
Careers in Animal Behavior
Graduate Programs In Animal Behavior
Resources for Career Development in Animal Behavior

What types of animals can be registered to do AAT work?
Therapy animals are most commonly dogs, but it is possible to register other animals through the Delta Society Pet Partners Program. Other animals that can be registered include: Cats, Horses, Donkeys, Llamas, Rabbits, Birds, Pot Bellied Pigs, Chickens, etc. See the Delta Society website for more information on this subject.

Can wild or exotic animals be utilized in AAT?
The Delta Society does not register reptiles, wildlife, or exotics. In most cases wild animals are neither suitable nor legal for animal-assisted activities/therapy animals. It is best not to work with wild animals. In most states it is illegal to possess a wild animal, to take a wild animal into a public facility, or to do education with a wild animal unless a person has a special license or permit. Work with wild animals needs to be limited to observing, such as watching birds at a feeder or squirrels playing, looking at pictures, or reading stories, visiting parks, zoos or wildlife rehab centers. If you want involvement with wild animals, find a wildlife rehabilitator, naturalist, or wildlife educator and discuss the possibilities with them.

For more information on requirements necessary to work with wildlife see:
National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association
(Book) Nature as a Guide. By Linda Lloyd Nebbe, 1995 (Second Edition) Educational Media Corporation
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
The Wildlife Rehabilitation Information Directory

How do I get my animal tested and registered as a therapy animal?

Contact one of the national organizations that evaluate and register therapy animals:

The Delta Society/ Pet Partners
289 Perimeter Road East
Renton, WA 98055-1329
425-226-7357

Therapy Dog International, Inc.
88 Bartley Road
Flanders, NJ 07836
973-252-9800

Therapy Dogs Incorporated
P.O. Box 5868
Cheyenne, WY 82003
877-843-7364 or 307-432-0272

What are the similarities and differences between these national organizations?

All three national organizations use evaluations based on the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test created by the American Kennel Club (AKC). Each organization has determined acceptable responses to the exercises and / or added more exercises. The AKC created the CGC in an attempt to encourage pet owners to teach their dogs the basic manners they should have. Each national therapy animal organization received permission from the AKC to use the CGC test, as a basis for their evaluation so there would be some consistency and a basic standard to use for evaluating volunteer visiting animals. Therapy Dogs, Inc. requires a CGC type test plus the team is evaluated while on three actual volunteer visits. Therapy Dogs International, Inc. uses the CGC test with slightly different responses plus two additional exercises. Delta Society-Pet Partners uses something similar to the CGC plus 10 more exercises of simulated situations. Delta also requires all teams and evaluators to be re-evaluated every 2 years.

I would like to work with horses. What are my options?

There are some questions to answer first:
In what context?
Do you want to train equines or become a therapeutic riding instructor?
Do you want to work in the human health field with AAT?
What do you know about equines?
Who is available in your area to assist you with further equine training?
Can you work for someone else who already does equine-assisted activities and/or therapy?