ANIMAL ASSISTED

INTERVENTIONS IN

HEALTH CARE:

MIND THE ANIMAL PARTNERS

DR. M.J.ENDERS-SLEGERS,

UNIVERSITY OF UTRECHT,

DEP. CLINICAL & HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY;

VP. IAHAIO; CHAIR AAIZOO

AAI DEFINITION:

“ any intervention that intentionally includes or

incorporates animals as a part of a therapeutic or

ameliorative process or milieu”

Kruger & Serpell, (2010)

AAI CAN BE SUBDIVIDED IN

Animal assisted therapy

Animal assisted

pedagogy

Animal assisted coaching

Animal assisted activities

ANIMAL ASSISTED THERAPY

• AAT is a goal-directed intervention with

animals as an integral part of the treatment

process for a particular human client

• The process is directed by a therapist

(regulated by national law) who is

practicing within the scope of his/her

professional expertise

• Key features include specific goals and

objectives for each individual and a

standardized evaluation of the progress

(Pet Partners, USA; ISAAT, Switzerland)

ANIMAL ASSISTED PEDAGOGY

• Animal assisted pedagogy or animal-

assisted education, can be conducted by a

regular school teacher with knowledge of

the animals involved

• when conducted by a remedial (special

education) teacher, a social pedagogue, or

teacher working in a correctional school, it

is also considered to be therapeutic and a

goal oriented intervention.

ANIMAL ASSISTED

COACHING

In private coaching practices with

horses(leadership, social skills, selfesteem)

or with donkeys ( meaningfulness,

selfconfidence)

or with dogs (social skills, selfesteem etc.)

ANIMAL ASSISTED ACTIVITIES

• Animal assisted activities are most often

conducted on a volunteer basis by people

and animals (usually dogs), who have

received at least introductory training and

preparation for visitation in social institutions

for motivational, educational and/or

recreational reasons.

EXAMPLES:

AUTISM (GUIDE) DOG

CHILDREN WITH A.S.S

EXAMPLE: VISITING ANIMALS

Photo: St .Zorgdier

VISITING ANIMALS

RESIDENTIAL ANIMALS

IN PSYCHIATRY

AAI WITH CHILDREN

Psychiatry / Down Syndrome

Many positive

effects on

humans

effects on animals?

Positive effects on psychological,

physiological and social quality of

wellbeing of humans

What effects on psychological,

physiological and social wellbeing of

animals?

Growing body of scientific knowledge

effects AAI on humans

Very few research into the wellbeing of animals in AAI

Animal assisted

interventions

PROLIFERATION OF AAI

INSTITUTES & AAI PROGRAMS

Quality of AAI professionals very divers

Quality of AAI education very divers

Quality of AAI programs very divers

IN THE

NETHERLANDS

AAI with horses ( equitherapy or equine assisted interventions), in hospitals, institutions, private practices, by private coaches; AAI with donkeys (asino therapy, asino assisted interventions)

AAI with dogs: in (psychiatric) hospitals, private practices, training centres

AAI with other animals ( delphins, cats, goats, chickens) ( e.g. in green care, SAM)

Service dogs ( dogs for the handicapped, guide dogs for the blind, Autism Guidedogs, Autism Family dogs) by KNGF, St. Hulphonden, SAAC etc.

ANIMAL WELFARE

Overal heondtio

1. A state of an animal in a particular situation at a particular

point in life

2. The Five Freedoms (FAWC, 2009)

3. Therapy Animals and animals in AAI have few control

over their lives (risk of being overwhelmed) in situations

4. Residential Animals risk to be neglected or improperly

cared for

5. Understanding animal’s social and behavioural

needs is an ethical obligation for those working

in AAI (Serpell et al. 2010)

IMPORTANT: EDUCATION ON

Behaviour & emotion animal: stress signals

Training

Overall health

condition

Selection

PROFESSIONALS IN

AAI

1. Need to be educated about social and behavioural needs of the animal

2. Need to leave some control over the levels of social and environmental stimulation to the animals

3. Need to be educated in ‘ stress signals’ of the animals

4. In residential settings staff members should be held accountable for the wellbeing of the animal and supervise interactions with inmates/residents

5. Adequate training of animals as well as of handlers and professionals is a ‘ must’

6. Proper health care (veterinarian) must be provided

7. Quality Standards of education programs and AAI programs necessary

THIS SHOULD RESULT

IN

• EDUCATION CURRICULA FOR AAI

PROFESSIONALS (ANIMAL CARE,

BEHAVIOUR, EMOTIONS, HANDLING)

• GOOD PROTOCOLS TO INTRODUCE AAI IN INSTITUTIONS

• BEST PRACTICES AND STANDARDS IN

AAI

• QUALIFICATION SYSTEM ( EUROPEAN

LEVEL) FOR AAI PRACTICES

• (Mission & goals AAIZOO)

AND IN

• HAPPY ANIMALS IN ANIMAL ASSISTED INTERVENTIONS AND OPTIMAL EFFECTS OF AAI ON VULNERABLE POPULATIONS

DISCUSSION AND QUESTIONS.

M.J.ENDERS-SLEGERS, CHAIR AAIZOO, NETHERLANDS

VICE PRESIDENT IAHAIO M.J.ENDERS@UU.NL

CHICAGO:

IAHAIO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN

COLLABORATION WITH AVMA

SAVE THE DATE JULY 20-22, 2013