Exotic animal-assisted therapy could put people and animals at risk: Experts
Dogs and horses have long been used in therapy, but experts are raising concerns about a more recent trend that has some Canadian companies offering exotic animals for therapeutic services in hospitals and nursing homes for a fee.
Before a dog can officially join the University of British Columbia’s animal therapy program, it has to be vetted by 25 people and go through training with its handler, a mock session and a three-month probation period.
The handlers also go through training both with and without the dog, said John Tyler Binfet, who runs the program aimed at supporting the social and emotional well-being of students at the university’s Okanagan campus.
“We take it very seriously,” he said, to ensure the process benefits both the patient and the dog.