Types of Facilities

• Nursing homes
• Assisted-living homes
• Personal Care homes
• Senior Centers
• Hospitals, including Veterans Hospitals
• Schools - reading programs, special education programs
• Libraries - reading programs
• Association for Retarded Citizens programs
• Counseling programs working the a trained counselor

What is Animal-Assisted Therapy

Animal-assisted therapy is a guided program where especially evaluated and trained animals, usually dogs or cats, are used as facilitators as part of a therapy plan.  These sessions may be part of a group or individual therapy session.

Animal-assisted activities are a meet and greet between individuals and an animal, again usually dogs or cats, either in a group setting or within a patient's room.  These meet and greet sessions are conducted by volunteers and usually take place within a nursing home or hospital.