ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on issues relating to animals in the classroom, practitioners involved in animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) should be aware of special considerations involved in equine-assisted activities. Resistance to change is perhaps one of the greatest obstacles to legitimizing the incorporation of animals in education. In connection with AAI, the primary legal concern is the possibility of civil liability if a person were injured by an animal or during an AAI. "Liability" is used to refer to the concept of tort liability for money damages. State laws determine liability for injuries caused by animals. Educators must be trained to learn how animals in the classroom can be integrated, including understanding appropriate husbandry and guidelines for proper hygiene. The policy issues involving accommodating a service animal in a school environment are impacted by the application of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which preempts any state, local guidelines, or policies that would restrict an animal's presence in a school.
