1. AAT Safety Guidelines
Behavior

2. Agenda
 The basics
 Body language
 Prevention

3. The Basics

4. Therapeutic Settings
 Healthcare facilities
 Mental health facilities
and offices
 Schools and libraries
Foss, M. (date unknown). Retrieved
on 4/21/14 at
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e
380/fiferguy/Colorado%20Trip/100_0
773.jpg

5. Therapeutic Settings
 Prisons
 Farms, marine animal facilities
 Disasters

6. Selection
 Approved animals
 Pet mammals
 Farm animals
 Dolphins
 Age: at least one year old,
preferably two years old

7. Non-Compatible Animals
 Exclude the following
 Other pets
 Reptiles, primates
 Hedgehogs, hamsters
 Animals not potty-trained
 Animals recently in a
shelter/pound

8. Safe Interactions
 Strangers
 Noises
 Anger
 Other animals
 Commands
Franklin Park Library, retrieved on 4/21/2014 at
http://www.stockpholio.com/view/image/id/4728239070#!Dog+Safety

9. Body Language

10. What Dogs See

11. What We See

12. Emotions
 Humans and their feelings
 Competition
 Depression
 Body language

13. Distressed Animals
 Rapid panting
 Enlarged pupils
 Ears flattened back
 Lowered body
 Lowered tail
*For illustrations, see http://moderndogmagazine.com/articles/how-read-your-
dogs-body-language/415

14. Prevention

15. Ground Rules
 All must be certified therapy animals
 All visits must always be supervised by handler or
therapist
 Develop policies for visitations
 For handlers
 For patients/clients
 Patient’s family

16. In Review
 Variety of settings
 Animal selection and training
 Body language
 Awareness of human and animal body language
 In-depth training in body language (in AAT 1020, next
course)
 Policies

17. Materials
 Content:
 Lefebvre, S. L.; Golab, G. C.; Christensen, E.;
Castrodale, L.; Aureden, K.; Bialachowski, A.; Gumley, N.;
Robinson, J.; Peregrine, A.; Benoit, M.; Card, M. L.; Van
Horne, L.; Weese, J. S. (2008) Guidelines for animal-
assisted interventions in healthcare facilities. American
Journal of Infection Control. Mar. 36(2):78-85. doi:
10.1016/j.ajic.2007.09.005
 https://www.avma.org/KB/Policies/Pages/Guidelines-for-
Animal-Assisted-Activity-Animal-Assisted-Therapy-and-
Resident-Animal-Programs.aspx
 http://moderndogmagazine.com/articles/how-read-your-
dogs-body-language/415

18. Materials
 Videos used with permission from www.ABRIonline.org
 Photos from photobucket.com and stockpholio.com
 Icons from www.graphicstock.com

19. Contact
Instructor: Rebecca York-Alcorn, M.S., Animal Behavior
Phone: 352-555-1234
Email: york-alcorn.r@abinstitute.edu
Location: Bldg. 4, Rm. 112D

20. Conclusion