ABSTRACT
One of the best ways to minimize the risk of injury or accident while practicing Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) is to make sure one understands how to properly apply established techniques. If a client has no social familiarity with an animal species or has had a traumatic experience with an animal similar to the therapy animal, then a natural tendency to connect with a therapy animal can be impaired. Clients with severe impairment, such as a fear or phobia of dogs, should not be pressured to be around an animal of which they are fearful. All clients should be screened before they participate in AAT for the protection of the client as well as for the pet. Clients with a tendency toward violence or history of animal abuse are unlikely candidates for participating in AAT. It is important to properly interpret animal behavior for the safety and welfare of animal and human participants in therapy.
