Directory of Animal Assisted Therapy Resources

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Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) - Animals, usually dogs, and their owners are trained to provide psychological comfort to people in hospitals and nursing homes. Often this is by scheduled visits. Animal Assisted Activity (AAA) - Patients receive physical therapy by interacting with animals. This category does not include Service Animals for the handicapped.

Subcategories

• Crisis Support
• Handicapped and Therapeutic Riding
• Literacy

Resources in This Category

• AATProfessionals Listserve

  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aatprofessionals/
  Practice Animal Assisted Therapy, or for persons who intend to use AAT after completing their degree programs, exams, licensures.

• Animal-Assisted Therapy & Activities

  http://www.animaltherapy.net/
  A guide to resources about pet therapy, courses, and the links between animal abuse, domestic violence and child abuse.

• animaLINK

  http://www.animalink.com/
  Michigan non-profit that works to improve lives through beneficial human-animal interactions. Program areas include therapeutic, companion, and working animal services.

• Bark Avenue on Parade

  http://www.barkavenue.org/
  Provides certification and training to dog and handler teams as well as continuing education regarding animal assisted therapy. A non-profit charitable organization in St Paul - Minneapolis, Minnesota.

• Blind Students Love These Dog Days

  http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2004/03/06/blind_students_love_these_dog_days/
  Garnet, a 75 pound shepherd, helps students at Perkins School for the Blind. She adjusts her level of play to a child's ability. The dog has protected some students by sensing an oncoming seizure. [The Boston Globe]

• Caring Canines Visiting Therapy Dogs, Inc.

  http://www.caringcanines.org/
  Typical visit to nursing home is four to six dogs in a community room. Other programs include a crises response team. Pictures of the animals and friends. Based in Boston, Massachusetts.

• Charles County Pets on Wheels

  http://southern.md.petsonwheels.org/
  Arranges for volunteers and their pets to visit residents of nursing homes and provide pet facility therapy. Emphasis on patients with impaired cognitive abilities. Located in Pomfret, Maryland.

• Comfort Caring Canines Therapy Dogs, Inc.

  http://www.comfortcaringcanines.org/
  Caring volunteers share the love of their canine campanions with others. Visits seniors, children, and hospitals in southeastern PA, NJ, DE, and MD area. How to socialize a puppy for later therapy dog work.

• Companion Animal Association of Arizona

  http://www.caaainc.org/socialpettherapy.htm
  Their social pet therapy program includes training and qualification for volunteers and their animals. Phoenix, Arizona.

• Denver Pet Partners

  http://www.denverpetpartners.org/
  Training and evaluations for people and their pets interested in animal-assisted activities and therapy. Affiliated of Delta Society.

• Dog B.O.N.E.S.

  http://www.therapydog.info/
  A network of Massachusetts therapy dog volunteers. How to get involved. Getting your dog certified. Links to sites in Massachusetts seeking therapy dog visits.

• Dog Play

  http://www.dogplay.com/Activities/Therapy/therapy.html
  Taking pets, especially dogs, visiting people in health care facilities; therapy ranges from mental and physical stimulation; petting the dogs, formal supervised therapy addressing a particular situation.

• Dog-Play: Joining a Therapy Dog Group

  http://www.dogplay.com/Activities/Therapy/join.html
  Finding someone to certify your dog is often a frustrating experience. The evaluations offered by the national organizations aren't always as frequent and convenient as you might like.

• DOGTORS Animal-Assisted Therapy

  http://dogtors.com/
  Training and certification of Animal-Assisted Therapy teams in the Miami Valley area of Ohio. Home of DOGTORS University and DOGTORS On-Call Emergency Services.

• Dr. Paws - Michigan

  http://www.drpaws.org/
  How to get your dog certified for pet therapy. Testing and activities in several Michigan cities.

• Dreamworkers, Inc.

  http://www.dogsaver.org/dreamworkers/
  Helps dog and cat owners in the Atlanta area to volunteer their pets for animal assisted therapy and activity. Also helps find service dog volunteers.

• Fairfax Pets On Wheels

  http://www.fpow.org/
  Volunteers and their pets provide pet therapy to improve the quality of life of area nursing home residents. Fairfax, Virginia.

• Fidos for Freedom, Inc.

  http://www.fidosforfreedom.org/
  A volunteer assistance dog training organization in Baltimore. Includes information about volunteering, and service, hearing and therapy dogs.

• Furry Friends Pet Assisted Therapy Services

  http://www.furryfriends.org/
  Delivering the love and affection of volunteers and their pets to enhance lives and reopen closed emotional doors of people with special needs. Where they go. How to help. San Jose, CA.

• Good Dog Foundation

  http://www.thegooddogfoundation.org/
  Pet therapy group in metro New York area. Facilities covered. Training and participation opportunities. How to contribute.

• Green Chimneys Children's Services

  http://www.greenchimneys.org/
  A pioneer in the field of animal-assisted therapy. Residential and day programs to create futures for children with emotional, behavioral, social, and learning challenges. Includes farm, animal, plant, and wildlife activities. Farm is in Patterson, New York.

• Hand-In-Paw

  http://www.handinpaw.org/
  Provides registered Delta Society Pet Partner teams as therapeutic tools in medical, social service, and educational settings. An Alabama non-profit.

• Happy Tails

  http://www.happytailspets.org/
  What they do and how to volunteer. Atlanta, Georgia.

• Healing Dogs

  http://www.healinghelp.org/
  Describes the psychological healing and support provided by service dogs, especially companion golden retrievers. Included are true stories and a psychology contest named "You vs Your Dog".

• Heart of Texas Therapy Dogs

  http://www.hotthdogs.org/
  Animal Assisted Therapy dog organization in Dallas metro area. Membership information and where they visit. Affiliated with Therapy Dogs, Inc.

• High Desert Obedience Club "Pet Pals"

  http://www.highdesertobedienceclub.org/pages/therapy.htm
  Pictures of their therapy dogs in action. Training and testing available. In Antelope Valley and Lancaster, California.

• Inmates Get Therapy from Pets

  http://www.walb.com/Global/story.asp?S=1950800&nav=5kZQO2IM
  Program at Autry State Prison, Georgia. Visits by dogs relieve depression and teach responsibility. Almost 400 of the 1500 inmates participate. [WALB-TV]

• Intermountain Therapy Animals

  http://www.therapyanimals.org/
  Non-profit organization bringing animal resources to human needs. Specializing in animal-assisted therapy in the areas of physical, occupational, speech and psychotherapies.

• National Capital Therapy Dogs, Inc.

  http://www.nctdinc.org/
  The Caring Canines: offers Animal-Assisted Activities (AAA) and Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) services, primarily to health care facilities in Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and surrounding areas. How to volunteer. How to have them visit a facility.

• Nationwide Therapy Dog Listings and More

  http://www.landofpuregold.com/rxb.htm
  Articles about training visiting dogs and the benefits of pet therapy. Links to many groups in the U.S. and Canada and other resources.

• North Star Foundation

  http://www.northstardogs.com/
  A nonprofit that breeds, trains, and places golden retrievers with children who have developmental disabilities, autism, physical challenges, or emotional problems.

• Oklahoma Dog Programs

  http://www.dogprograms.com/
  Combines three sites. American Dog Obedience: school for therapy dogs and handlers. Reaching People Through Dogs: for educators, health care professionals, and volunteers around the US. Petworks in Progress: non-profit group of therapy dog volunteers in central Oklahoma.

• Paws & Hearts

  http://www.pawsandhearts.org/
  Enrich the lives of seniors and children with one-on-one attention that only a four-legged healer can provide." In Palm Desert, CA.

• People and Animal Learning Services

  http://www.palstherapy.org/
  PALS, Inc. is a therapeutic riding program for children and adults with disabilities.

• Personal Ponies Ltd.

  http://www.personalponies.org/
  This non-profit provides miniature Shetland ponies to terminally ill or disabled children. Active in most U.S. states.

• Pet Partners

  http://petpartners.org/
  Offers training and screening for people who want to visit hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities with their animals.

• Pet Therapy, Pets and Stress Relief

  http://www.holistic-online.com/stress/stress_pet-therapy.htm
  Therapeutic use of pets for a wide variety of patients. Animals provide comfort and bring out our nurturing instinct.

• Pets on Wheels

  http://www.petsonwheelsscottsdale.com/
  A pet visitation therapy program serving some 16 health care centers in Scottsdale, AZ. The benefits of visits. How to start a similar program. Some members teach pet care to second graders.

• Potential Benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy for Children with Special Needs

  http://www.kidneeds.com/diagnostic_categories/articles/animalassistedtherapy.htm
  For children with special needs, the ability to interact with a dog, cat, or other furry friend can have a very positive impact upon their quality of life.

• Prescription Pet Program

  http://www.childrenscolorado.org/donate-volunteer/volunteer/prescription-pet-program
  RxPets dog assisted therapy started in 1984 by Children's Hospital and Denver Area Veterinary Medical Society. Almost half the inpatients at The Children's Hospital are offered a dog visit every day.

• Prison Pet Partnership Program

  http://members.tripod.com/~prisonp/
  Inmates at a correctional facility for women learn how to train, groom, and board dogs within the prison walls. A feeling of satisfaction directly contributes to the mental and physical wellness of all who are involved.

• Project Pooch at MacLaren Correctional Facility

  http://www.pooch.org/
  When incarcerated youth offenders train homeless dogs, both get a new leash on life. In Woodburn, Oregon.

• Rottweilers Can Be Friends, Therapy Dogs, Too

  http://www.post-gazette.com/pets/19990217pets.asp
  An entertaining article about a rescued Rottweiler with a new and rewarding job. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

• San Francisco's SPCA Animal Assisted Therapy

  https://www.sfspca.org/get-involved/volunteer/animal-assisted-therapy
  Brings the healing presence of animals to people in health care facilities citywide. Volunteers take SF SPCA Program animals or their own pets on the visits: dogs, guinea pigs, rabbits, even cats.

• Service Dogs for Victims of Assault

  http://www.dogsaver.org/sdva/
  Non-profit organization which uses dogs as therapeutic aids for victims of assault. Includes information about the dogs used and their training.

• Sirius Healing of Seattle

  http://www.siriushealing.com/
  An animal assisted therapy and animal assisted activity program in Seattle, Washington. Therapy dog training to Delta Society Pet Partners standards.

• Tails of Joy

  http://www.tailsofjoy.org/
  Provides therapeutic benefit to challenged people through the use of animals. Support and training in pet therapy. Connecticut. Volunteers certified by Delta Society Pet Partners or Therapy Dogs International.

• Teton County PAL

  http://www.dogsaver.org/tetoncountypal/
  People Animal Love is a pet partner program in Jackson, Wyoming. Volunteers visit others to provide them with the benefits of contact with an animal.

• The Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs

  http://www.golden-dogs.org/
  Non-profit organization evaluates, tests, trains, qualifies, and supports therapy dogs for the purpose of giving loving and empathic support in a variety of facilities where emotional service dogs are indispensable. Qualified members receive benefits including primary accident and liability insurance within the U.S. and Canada, therapy dog equipment, post card mailings, and quarterly newsletters.

• Therapaws of Michigan, Inc.

  http://www.therapaws.org/
  Canine-assisted therapy dog visits. Promotes the human-animal bond in therapeutic and educational settings.

• Therapet Foundation

  http://www.therapet.org/
  Non-profit to facilitate use of animals in healing and rehabilitation of acute and chronically ill individuals. Education of volunteers, animals, and health care professionals.

• Therapy Animals of Utah

  http://therapyanimalsutah.org/
  Non-profit organization based in Salt Lake City dedicated to bringing comfort, love, and hope to those in need through the miracle of the human-animal bond.

• Therapy Dogs

  http://www.dogplay.com/Activities/Therapy/therapyl.html
  Links to therapy dogs, animal-assisted therapy, and animal-assisted services, from Dog-Play.

• Therapy Dogs Inc.

  http://www.therapydogs.com/
  A national registrar. Helps dog owners use their pets for therapy work. Qualifications of therapy dogs. How to have a safe visit.

• Therapy Dogs International

  http://www.tdi-dog.org/
  A national registrar. Provides qualified handlers and their therapy dogs for visits. Training and testing programs.

• Therapy Dogs, Singapore

  http://tdspore.wixsite.com/tdspore
  Provides pet-assisted therapy (PAT) to meet the physical and emotional needs of the underprivileged. Find mission statement, links, articles, and information on recent visits.

• TherapyPets

  http://www.therapypets.org/
  Non-profit promotes animal assisted therapy. Benefits both the volunteer and those visited. Oakland, California.

• Visiting Dogs

  http://www.workingdogs.com/visiting_dogs.htm
  An article by the owner of Jake on doing therapy dog visits.

• Visiting Pet Program

  http://www.visitingpetprogram.org/
  A New Orleans non-profit. Hospital and nursing home visits by a variety of mix-breed and pedigreed dogs and cats, guinea pigs, and rabbits. All animals have been temperament tested during Pet and Handler Evaluation Days.

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