A revised taxonomy of assistance animals

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Animal Behavior
• Public Policy

Background:

• The increasing use of animals in support roles has led to inconsistent terminology.
• Existing labels for assistance animals lack standardization, causing confusion for stakeholders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a concise and functional taxonomy for classifying assistance animals.
• To establish a clear and consistent vocabulary for diverse animal roles.

Main Methods:

• Identification of key differentiating factors for animal categories.
• Analysis of existing animal roles, training standards, and legal protections.
• Development of a six-category functional taxonomy.

Main Results:

• Six distinct functional categories for assistance animals were identified: service animal, public service animal, therapy animal, visitation animal, sporting/recreational/agricultural animal, and support animal.
• The proposed taxonomy considers factors like task performance, skill level, professional use, certification, and legal access.

Conclusions:

• The developed taxonomy provides a clear and standardized vocabulary for classifying assistance animals.
• This classification system will benefit consumers, professionals, researchers, policymakers, and regulatory agencies by improving communication and understanding.