ABSTRACT
This chapter begins with two contextual sections: a brief review of education in South Africa and Nigeria, and current attitudes towards companion animals. The status of animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) is then discussed against this background, with a focus on the provision and impact of two well-established programmes. The chapter concludes with reflections on the future direction of AAIs in Africa. It is recognised that each context holds its own dynamics regarding educational practice, attitudes to companion animals, and animal-related policies and practices. The experiences presented in this chapter should not be seen to reflect a singular African experience, but rather an introduction to shared points of struggle and areas of differentiation or growth.
