ABSTRACT
A conversation with Debbie Ngai. She is founder and director of the Hong Kong Animal Assisted Therapy Association, a program aimed to provide professional animal-assisted therapy in Hong Kong for people who are in need. They serve about 90 marginal youths in an at-risk program and about 60 special needs students with conditions such as ADHD, autism, and dyslexia. The animal assistants for this program are dogs. Dogs are well trained and socialized before participation in the animal-assisted intervention programs. This organization also thoroughly trains all participant animal handlers in animal behavior, animal communication, and animal handling.
