Christi Williams PT, DPT, OCS, Cert. MDT
“The human-animal bond
is a mutually beneficial
and dynamic relationship
between people and animals
that positively influences the health
and well-being of both.
While many of us intuitively understand
the benefits of positive interactions
with animals in our lives,
an emerging body of research
is recognizing the impact
the human-animal bond can have
on individual and community health”
(Pet Partners, 2016a)
My background
 Physical Therapist
 DPT – Belmont 2005
 Clinical Experience
 Adjunct Professor -> Assistant Professor
 Service/Research/Teaching
Meet Layla
Certified Therapy Team
 Certified Therapy Team in 2015
 Pet Partners
 Layla’s background
 Goals of today’s session:
 Introduction to Pet Therapy
 Therapy animal vs. service animal vs
emotional support animal
 Benefits of Pet Therapy / Research
 Facilities Served
 How to become a Certified Team
 How to get Certified Teams to visit your
facility
Therapy Animal
 “Partner with their human companions to bring comfort
and healing to those in need” (Certified Therapy Team)
 Provide affection and comfort to various members of the
public, typically in facilities such as hospitals, retirement
homes and schools
 No special rights of access, except in facilities where they
are welcomed
(Pet Partners, 2014)
Service Animal
 Defined by the ADA as dogs
that are individually trained
to do work or perform tasks
for people with disabilities
 They are working animals and
not pets
 Are permitted anywhere
general public is permitted
 Assist people who have:
 Visual deficits
 Hearing deficits
 Mobility deficits
 Seizure disorders
 Mental illnesses
 PTSD
*Not a complete list*
 Life changing partners
 Enabling people with
disabilities to live more freely
and independently
(Pet Partners, 2014)
Emotional Support Animal
(ESA)
 Also referred to as a
“comfort animal”
 Pet that provides
therapeutic support to a
person with a mental illness
 Do not have the same rights
as a service animal
 Must have permission to be
in public areas
 Do have special allowance to
 Must be prescribed by a
licensed mental health
professional
ride on airplanes and live
with owner regardless of
“no pets” policy
 Covered by Fair Housing
Amendments Act (FHAA)
(Pet Partners, 2014)
Today’s Topic
2 Types of Therapy
That Therapy Animals can Provide
Animal-Assisted Therapy
(AAT)
Definition
Goals
Activity
Animal-Assisted Activities
(AAA)
Used in conjunction with a health
professional (Physician, PT, nurse,
mental health professional, teacher,
etc.) for patients who have specific
needs
Session has specific treatment goals
Often “Meet and Greet”
Involve pets visiting people
Specific treatment activities – based
on patient’s needs
Generally same activity with various
patients
No specific treatment goals
Documentation Required – sessions are documented Unnecessary
Visits
Appointments are scheduled
Example
Goal: Increase ambulation skills with Child holds pet in a long-term care
a physical therapist
facility
Activity: Child walks the dog short
distance around facility
Spontaneous
Dog performs trick in patient’s room
Source: Data from Pet Partners, 2015
What are the benefits of therapy
dog/animal visits?
 Decreased heart rate 1,2,3
 Decreased anxiety 4,2,5,6,7
 Decreased stress8
 Decreased fear 9
 Decreased depression 2,5
 Improved cardiovascular
benefits4
 Increased physical
activity15
Courtesy of Vanderbilt University Medical Center
What are the benefits of therapy
dog/animal visits?
 Decreased pain 10,2
 Decreased use of
medications 1
 Increased motivation9
 Increased compliance &
participation11
 Decreased cost of health
care?11
Courtesy of Vanderbilt University Medical Center
What are the benefits of therapy
dog/animal visits?
 Improved social interactions 13,14
 Improved communication9
 Improved staff moods 9
What are the benefits of therapy
dog/animal visits?
• Improved reading12
R.E.A.D Programs
Reading
Education
Assistance
Dogs
Facilities
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
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


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Skilled Nursing Facilities
Assisted Living
Retirement Homes
Rehabilitation Centers
Hospitals
Schools
Libraries – R.E.A.D
Homeless Shelters
Hospice Care
In-Home Visits
Funeral Homes
Disaster Relief
Correctional Facilities
VA Facilities
Regulations / Infection Control
 Regular bathing/grooming
 No visits when handler or pet
are sick
 *Hand sanitizer before & after
petting
 Sheet/towel on floor or bed
 Cleared by veterinarian
 Healthy
 Up to date on vaccinations
 Regular flea/tick preventative
 Recertification every 2 years
 Includes testing & registration
process
 2 hour visits
 Non-threatening, well-behaved
 No raw protein diet
https://petpartners.org/volunteer/our-therapy-animal-program/volunteer-policies-procedures/
Contraindications / Considerations
 Pet therapy is not appropriate for everyone
 Fearful
 Allergic
 Cultural Beliefs
 Infection control issues (those who are sick)
 High risk populations (severely immunocompromised)
 Certain high stress situations (depends on the animal)
Our Certification
 Pet Partners
 A nonprofit organization
 Largest
 Founded in 1977 under the name “Delta Society”
 Changed name to Pet Partners in 2012
 Mission: Pet Partner’s mission is to improve human health
and well-being through the human-animal bond
The Process
Basic
Obedience
Training
Team
Evaluation
(Certification
Exam)
Canine Good
Citizen Test
(CGC)
Team
Registration
Therapy
Training
Class
(onsite or
online)
ID badge
Liability
Insurance
Health
Screening
(vet)
Facility-Specific
Requirements
Testing
Skills Examination
Aptitude Examination
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 Overall examination – ears, tail,
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Accept a friendly stranger
Accept petting
Appearance & grooming
Good behavior walking
Walking through a crowd
Reaction to distractions (loud
noise)
Sit on command
Down on command
Stay on command
Come when called
Reaction to a neutral dog
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mouth, feet
Clumsy petting
Restraining hug
Staggering and gestures
Angry yelling
Bumped from behind
Crowded and petted by several
people
Leave it
Offer a treat
http://therapyarc.org/facilities.htm
*Therapy ARC is the only community
partner of Pet Partners in TN
http://www.therapyarc.org/
•
For a list of facilities that Therapy
ARC graduates are currently
serving, please visit their website
•
For additional questions, contact:
Linda Brewer
Layla went to school
The “Rehab Lab”
Ended up leading to a research study
We Graduated!
What Layla & I do
 Visit Vanderbilt Health One Hundred Oaks
 Pediatric Rehabilitation
 Infusion Center
 Nurses and staff
What Layla & I do
 Camp T.A.L.K
Courtesy of Camp T.A.L.K.
What Layla & I do
 Constraint Camp
Courtesy of Vanderbilt Health One Hundred Oaks - Pediatric Rehabilitation
What Layla & I do
 Constraint Camp
Courtesy of Vanderbilt Health One Hundred Oaks - Pediatric Rehabilitation
What Layla & I do
 Constraint Camp
Courtesy of Vanderbilt Health One Hundred Oaks - Pediatric Rehabilitation
Courtesy of Vanderbilt Health One Hundred Oaks - Pediatric Rehabilitation
Pups and Popsicles
at Belmont
Research at Belmont
 Effect of Therapy Dog on anxiety, HR, blood pressure of 1st
year PT students prior to taking a lab practical exam
 Statistical significance was found in anxiety reduction
(STAI)
To what extent do you feel that a Certified Therapy Dog in a PT
program would benefit students?
Research at Vanderbilt
Courtesy of Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Courtesy of Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Courtesy of Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact your local organizations
1.
1.
2.
http://therapyarc.org/facilities.htm
http://www.nashvilledog.org/petTherapy.htm
Contact Pet Partners
2.
1.
https://petpartners.org/learn/pet-partners-at-your-facility/
R.E.A.D.
3.
1.
http://www.therapyanimals.org/Tennessee.html
Other
4.
1.
http://www.akc.org/events/title-recognition-program/therapy/organizations/
Frequently Asked Questions
1. General Obedience Training / Canine Good Citizen Test
2. Take a Handler Course with a Therapy training program
3. Team Evaluation
4. Team Registration
5. Begin Volunteering!
Together we can make a difference
Christi Williams, PT, DPT, OCS, Cert. MDT
[email protected]
 Reading Education Assistance Dogs
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9LToaB_s4I
 Pet Partners
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCXXxfVCA6Y
References
1. Pet Partners Handler Student Guide. Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program For Animal-Assisted Activites and Animal-Assisted Therapy.
Bellevue, WA:
Pet Partners; 2014.
2. Lust E, Ryan-Haddad A, Coover K, Snell J. Measuring clinical outcomes of animal-assisted therapy: Impact on resident medication usage. Consult Pharm.
2007;22(7):580-585. doi:10.4140/TCP.n.2007.580.
3. Nepps P, Stewart CN, Bruckno SR. Animal-Assisted Activity: Effects of a Complementary Intervention Program on Psychological and Physiological
Variables. J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med. 2014;19(3):211-215. doi:10.1177/2156587214533570.
4. Polheber JP, Matchock RL. The presence of a dog attenuates cortisol and heart rate in the Trier Social Stress Test compared to human friends. 2014:860867. doi:10.1007/s10865-013-9546-1.
5. Cole KM, Gawlinski A, Steers N, Kotlerman J. Animal-assisted therapy in patients hospitalized with heart failure. Am J Crit Care. 2007;16(800):575-585;
quiz 586; discussion 587-588.
6. O’Haire ME, Guérin NA, Kirkham AC. Animal-Assisted Intervention for trauma: a systematic literature review. Front Psychol. 2015;6(January):1121.
doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01121.
7. Marcus DA. Complementary medicine in cancer care: Adding a therapy dog to the team. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2012;16(4):289-291.
doi:10.1007/s11916-012-0264-0.
8. Goddard AT, Gilmer MJ. Pediatric Patients. 2015;41(2).
9. Toews JA, Lockyer JM, Dobson DJ, et al. Analysis of stress levels among medical students, residents, and graduate students at four Canadian schools of
medicine. Acad Med. 1997;72(11):997-1002. doi:10.1097/00001888-199711000-00019.
10. Gagnon J, Bouchard F, Landry M, Belles-Isles M, Fortier M, Fillion L. Implementing a hospital-based animal therapy program for children with cancer: a
descriptive study. Can Oncol Nurs J. 2004;14(4):217-222. doi:10.5737/1181912x144217222.
11. Braun C, Stangler T, Narveson J, Pettingell S. Animal-assisted therapy as a pain relief intervention for children. Complement Ther Clin Pract.
2009;15(2):105-109. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2009.02.008.
12. Abate S V, Zucconi M, Boxer BA. Impact of canine-assisted ambulation on hospitalized chronic heart failure patients’ ambulation outcomes and
satisfaction: a pilot study. J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2011;26(3):224-230. doi:10.1097/JCN.0b013e3182010bd6.
13. le Roux MC, Swartz L, Swart E. The Effect of an Animal-Assisted Reading Program on the Reading Rate, Accuracy and Comprehension of Grade 3
Students: A Randomized Control Study. Child Youth Care Forum. 2014;43(6):655-673. doi:10.1007/s10566-014-9262-1.
14. Perkins J, Bartlett H, Travers C, Rand J. Dog-assisted therapy for older people with dementia: A review. Australas J Ageing. 2008;27(4):177-182.
doi:10.1111/j.1741-6612.2008.00317.x.
15. Boyer VE, Mundschenk NA. Using Animal-Assisted Therapy to Facilitate Social Communication : A Pilot Study. 2014;38(1):26-39.
16. Creagan ET, Bauer BA, Thomley BS, Borg JM. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice Animal-assisted therapy at Mayo Clinic : The time is now.
Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2015;21(2):101-104. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2015.03.002.