Working with Organizations
We guide schools, businesses, and healthcare facilities interacting with assistance animals. We align with the recommendations of the American Veterinary Medical Association guidelines as standard of care for animal-assisted activity and animal-assisted therapy programs.
Healthcare Facilities
As stated by the American Veterinary Medical Association, animal-assisted therapy and animal-assisted activity programs should be governed by basic standards and regularly monitored.
It is important to have veterinary professionals that can assist and support the scientific evaluation and documentation of the health benefits of the human-animal bond. Veterinary involvement in these programs is also important to address the concerns of zoonotic disease risk and animal behavioral problems.
Having a veterinary advocate ensures the health and welfare of the animals and humans involved in these programs. The goal of our veterinary consultants is to maximize the therapeutic applications of the human-animal bond.
Animal Evaluation:
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Allows DVM to assess overall animal health and welfare
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Allows DVM to screen for temperament and behavioral traits which threaten public health and safety
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Human-Animal Evaluation:
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Allows DVM to assess the effectiveness of the human-animal partnership
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Allows DVM to assess mutual benefits of the human-animal bond
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Allows DVM to advocate for the working animal
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Allows DVM to collaborate with healthcare professional to optimize the function of the human-animal bond
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Human-Animal Interaction Evaluation:
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Allows DVM to work with the healthcare team to optimize the function of the human-animal bond
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Allows DVM to address an emergency plan of action for working animal if handler of animal becomes incapacitated
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Allows DVM to assess animal temperament and behavior which threaten public health and safety
Schools
The use of service dog and therapy animal teams in school aged children is on the rise. As with healthcare facilities, school animal therapy programs and student-service dog teams should be governed by basic standards and have regular veterinary monitoring as well. Veterinary involvement in these school programs is important to address the concerns of zoonotic disease risk, animal behavioral problems and general animal welfare.
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The goal of our veterinary consultants is to advocate and ensure the health and welfare of the animals and students involved and interacting with these assistance animal teams.
How we help:
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Creates a safe environment for all individuals working with or around assistance animals
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Creates a safe environment for all animals working in your school
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Creates a standard protocol for supporting student-service dog team
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Creates a standard protocol for therapy animal team
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Animal Evaluation:
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Allows DVM to assess overall animal health and welfare
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Allows DVM assess preventative care to reduce zoonotic disease risk to other service dogs, faculty staff and students
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Allows DVM to screen for temperament and behavioral traits which threaten other public health and safety
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Human-Animal Evaluation:
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Allows DVM to assess the effectiveness of the therapy animal program
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Allows DVM to assess mutual benefits of the human-animal bond
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Allows DVM to advocate for the working animal
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Allows DVM to collaborate with faculty to optimize the function of the human-animal bond
​
Human-Animal Interaction Evaluation:
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Allows DVM to work with faculty, staff and students to optimize the function of the human-animal bond
-
Allows DVM to address an emergency plan of action for working animal if handler of animal becomes incapacitated
-
Allows DVM to assess animal temperament and behavior which threaten public health and safety
Businesses
Businesses are having to support more customers with disabilities using service dogs. Some businesses may also be experiencing an increase in pet owners fraudulently representing their pet as a service dog.
It is important to consult with our veterinarians because as recognized animal experts, we are uniquely qualified to provide resources for education, behavioral understanding, and guidance regarding appropriate service dog behavior.
Consulting with our veterinarians will help your business organization gain insight and education specifically to support customers with disabilities using service dogs. The goal of our veterinary consultants is to support individuals using service dogs and to reduce service dog fraud.
What we do to help:
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Education and understanding to differentiate dog behaviors that can distinguish a pet and a service dog
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Education and understanding to know basic dog disruptive behavior
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Education and understanding to become empowered to know when to request the removal of a disruptive service dog
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Education and understanding on the rights and responsibilities of a business entity as it relates to service dogs
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Education and understanding on the rights and responsibilities of a service dog handler
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Education and understanding on how to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act as it relates to customers using Service Dogs
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Creating a safe environment for all individuals working around service dogs
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Creating a safe environment for all service dogs working in your place of business