ABSTRACT
My introduction to the field of Human-Animal Interactions (HAI) was through my volunteer work as a certified therapy dog handler in my community. I was initially looking for volunteer opportunities for my high school-aged son when another mom shared that she had gotten their dog certified as a therapy dog and her son enjoyed going with her on visits. I home schooled our golden retriever, Nellie, on the tasks required for the Therapy Dog International (TDI) test. Once Nellie passed, we began weekly visits as part of a social hour at an assisted living facility. My son, Pat, was able to complete his volunteer hours with ease. However, when he graduated high school and moved on to college, I realized that I benefited from this work and wanted to continue.
