PT, OT and SLP
Animal-assisted interventions for rehab clinics
Daisy and a Doctor of Physical Therapy help your PT, OT and SLP team add animal-assisted interventions that are goal-directed, documented and safe for patients and Daisy.
At a glance
- Audience
- Outpatient, inpatient and pediatric rehab clinics, and their PT, OT and SLP staff
- Services
- AAT co-treatment, animal-assisted activities, program consulting, staff training
- Session length
- 15 to 30 minute AAT blocks, with rest for Daisy between sessions
- Standards
- AAAIP Standards of Practice for animal-assisted interventions
- Team
- Russ L'HommeDieu, DPT, with Daisy, a certified three-legged therapy dog
- Cost
- Quote based on schedule and services. Ask about recurring clinic days
How an AAT session works
- 1
Before
Your clinic identifies suitable patients, sets therapy goals, and gets patient consent. We screen for allergies, fear of dogs and infection risk.
- 2
Plan
The treating PT, OT or SLP and Russ choose how Daisy will support each goal, such as gait practice, fine motor tasks or verbal commands.
- 3
Session
A 15 to 30 minute co-treatment. Your clinician directs the therapy. Russ handles Daisy and watches her stress signals throughout.
- 4
After
Hand hygiene for everyone, Daisy rests, and your clinician documents the skilled service and the patient's response.
What your clinic gains
- Patients who are more motivated, engaged and willing to repeat hard tasks.
- Therapy goals that are measurable and documented, so AAT reads as skilled care.
- A program that protects patients, staff and Daisy, built on AAAIP standards rather than goodwill.
Goal ideas by discipline
- Physical therapy
- Gait training while walking Daisy on a leash, balance and weight shifting while grooming or tossing a toy, sit-to-stand to give a treat, and endurance goals.
- Occupational therapy
- Fine motor and grasp with leash clips, brushes and treat pouches, bilateral coordination, task sequencing, and daily-living simulations such as preparing a water bowl.
- Speech-language pathology
- Articulation and voice volume through commands Daisy responds to, multi-step directions, narrative language about Daisy, and motivation for AAC users.
AAT or AAA? Using the right terms
We use the terminology published by the Association of Animal-Assisted Intervention Professionals (AAAIP).
- Animal-assisted intervention (AAI): the umbrella term for intentionally including a therapy animal in health, education or human services.
- Animal-assisted therapy (AAT): goal-directed, planned, structured and documented therapy directed by a health or human service provider, such as your PT, OT or SLP.
- Animal-assisted activities (AAA): less formal visits for motivation, education or recreation, such as a gym or waiting room visit. No treatment goals.
- A therapy dog is not a service dog or an emotional support animal. Daisy has no public access rights and visits only where your facility invites her.
Services for rehab clinics
- AAT co-treatment days: Daisy joins scheduled sessions your clinicians direct, in time-limited blocks.
- Animal-assisted activities: morale visits in the gym, waiting room or staff break room.
- AAI program consulting: policies, patient screening, consent, infection prevention and documentation templates for your clinic.
- Staff in-service: what AAT is and is not, writing AAT goals, and reading a therapy dog's stress signals.
Handler and team standards
How we meet the AAAIP Standards of Practice for handlers and assessment.
- Russ completed animal-assisted intervention training covering handler responsibilities, client work, professional conduct, zoonosis and infection prevention.
- Daisy is a Canine Good Citizen and certified therapy dog, always leashed and handled by Russ.
- We are completing an AAAIP therapy team evaluation, with knowledge and practical assessments by a qualified evaluator, and will be reassessed on a recurring schedule.
- Russ keeps up with continuing education in animal-assisted interventions.
- Russ knows Daisy's baseline health and body language, so he can tell when something has changed.
Daisy's welfare comes first
AAAIP standards call for animals who enjoy the work, not just tolerate it.
- Daisy gives active consent: she approaches by choice and is never forced to interact.
- Sessions are time-limited, with rest and water between them, and a cap on how many she works each day.
- One handler, one animal: Russ brings only Daisy.
- Positive, non-coercive training and equipment only.
- Russ removes Daisy from a session right away if she shows stress, and adapts tasks to her three-legged body.
- Routine veterinary care and supervision.
Risk management and infection prevention
- Current vaccinations and veterinary health screening, documentation available on request.
- Daisy is not fed a raw meat diet, per AAI infection prevention standards.
- Daisy is bathed and groomed before clinic days.
- Hand hygiene before and after every patient contact, with a barrier sheet when a patient's skin or bed would touch Daisy.
- Liability insurance documentation available on request.
- A written plan for reporting and handling any incident.
What we ask of your clinic
AAAIP recommends facilities take these steps for a safe program.
- Set clear program goals and choose suitable patients.
- Provide adequate space for the session and for Daisy to rest.
- Document the intervention in the patient record.
- Educate staff, patients and families about what to expect.
Meet Daisy
Watch Daisy Run Like a Rabbit
See how Daisy moves on three legs.
Yes! You Can!!
Channel 4's Rio 2016 Paralympics trailer, a favorite for talking about adapting.
What your clinic provides
- A clinic contact who coordinates patients and schedules
- Patient consent and a list of cleared patients
- Treatment goals from the treating clinician
- A quiet rest area for Daisy and access to water
- Your clinic's infection control and animal visitation policy
Questions from clinics
Who directs the therapy?
Your licensed PT, OT or SLP directs the session and sets the goals. Russ handles Daisy, protects her welfare and, as a physical therapist, helps design activities that fit the goals.
How should we document AAT?
Document the skilled service and the patient's response as you normally would, and note how the therapy animal was used. We can share sample goal and note templates. Check your payer and facility policies for billing.
Which patients are not a good fit?
Patients with dog allergies, significant fear of dogs, open wounds that cannot be covered, or infection precautions that rule out animal contact. Your clinical team makes the final call.
Does Daisy having three legs limit what she can do?
Daisy moves well, and Russ adapts tasks so they suit her body, with shorter walks, no repeated jumping and plenty of rest. Her adaptation is also a powerful example for patients after amputation or injury.
Bring Daisy to your clinic
Takes about 2 minutes. We reply within 2 business days.