The document outlines an animal-assisted empathy education program that will be implemented across multiple groups. It describes designing programs to run in schools, the community, senior homes, and hospitals using trained volunteers and therapy animals. It also discusses evaluating the impact of the programs on increasing empathy, compassion, and respect.

1.  Evidence based strategy informed by academic literature and resources developed by RSPCA and RNZSPCA
 Advised by Arnja Dale, Chief Scientific Officer RNZSPCA
 Education content developed and written by experienced, NZ trained classroom teachers
 Animal assisted empathy education programme piloted by schools in 2016-2017
 Programme evaluation to be guided by measures included in “Assessing the Human-Animal Bond: A Compendium of Actual Measures”
SCHOOLS COMMUNITY SENIORS HOSPITALS
 Design an animal assisted empathy
education programme that runs across ten
sessions
 Design reading therapy dog programme
sessions and volunteer training as part of
Outreach Therapy Pets
 Pilot, trial and collate feedback related to the
programme
 Evaluate impact of change in knowledge,
attitudes and skills
 Maintain a focus on working with targeted
young people to support an increase in
empathy and understanding of the importance
of animal welfare
 Focus on areas where animal neglect,
abandonment and abuse is most prevalent and
exposure to responsible pet ownership is
scarce
 Develop relationships with community
groups, social services and event
management organisations across the
Auckland region
 Design community presentations that
promote awareness of SPCA Auckland for use
at speaking engagements and public events
 Positively influence attitudes and behaviour
towards animals through a positive community
presence
 Advocate, influence and provide benefits
through collaboration with all key
stakeholders
 Utilise the skills of trained volunteers
coupled with the therapeutic values of animals
to provide comfort to the elderly
 Maintain regular visits by volunteers with
their pets to establishments
 Build strong positive relationships with all
senior establishments
 Provide companionship to senior individuals
through pet ownership, while saving the lives
of companion animals in SPCA shelters
 Utilise the skills of trained volunteers
coupled with the therapeutic values of animals
to provide comfort to the sick
 Maintain regular visits by volunteers with
their pets to hospitals
 Build strong positive relationships with all
key stakeholders
 Provide comfort and emotional well being to
those in need
 Strong team of volunteers and animal
ambassadors trained to work in schools
 Programmes are being implemented across
Auckland in focus areas with the children who
need this most
 Feedback and evaluation demonstrates
changes that can be attributed to our
programme
 Evaluation demonstrates impact on empathy,
compassion, respect and justice for all living
beings
 Strong team of volunteers and animal
ambassadors trained to deliver key SPCA
Auckland messages with groups and at events
 Strong working relationships with community
groups, social services, event management
contacts and other key organisations
 Improved animal welfare awareness with
groups that we work with in the community
 Increased understanding of the work of
SPCA Auckland with groups we work with in
the community
 Strong team of volunteers and animal
ambassadors trained to work in senior
establishments
 Robust processes and records for all
establishments involved
 Increased numbers of adoption of senior
animals
 Strong team of volunteers and animal
ambassadors trained to work in hospitals
 Robust processes and records for all
hospitals involved
 Foster empathy, compassion and respect for
all living beings
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 pet owners 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. Our
programmes have the potential to develop empathy, compassion and respect for all living things, reaching communities of people who may not have the opportunity to experience the positive
human-animal bond.
Enriching the hearts and minds of New Zealanders through the human-animal bond
OUTREACH
CREDIBILITYKEYSTRATEGIESMEASUREOFSUCCESS
Recruit and train a team of specialised volunteers
OUTCOMES