ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on practical issues associated with implementing happy, humane dog-assisted interventions. It is structured in four parts. The first discusses the fundamental ethical question of whether it is right to bring a dog or any animal into school. The second considers matters of health and safety, including guidance around conducting appropriate risk assessment to ensure children's and animal welfare needs are met, and about how to prepare stakeholders for the arrival of a dog. The third suggests possible approaches to planning the day-to-day interactions between dogs and children so that they can happen in a playful manner. And finally, the chapter discusses difficult issues such as the loss of a dog or handler, the impact this may have on children, the school community and the dog themselves, and how this can be managed.
