Defining Terms Used for Animals Working in Support Roles for People with Support Needs

Area of Science:

• Anthrozoology
• Animal-assisted interventions
• Human-animal interaction

Background:

• Nomenclature for animals supporting people is often ambiguous.
• Confusion exists among researchers, practitioners, and end users regarding animal roles.
• Clear definitions are needed due to legal protections and funding associated with certain animal roles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide operationalized definitions for nine terms related to animals working with people.
• To clarify distinctions between terms like "assistance animal", "therapy animal", and "service animal".
• To address nomenclature confusion impacting various stakeholders globally.

Main Methods:

• Workshops involving over 100 delegates at International Society for Anthrozoology (ISAZ) conferences in 2018 and 2020.
• An iterative process was used to define and differentiate nine key terms.
• Expert consensus and collaborative refinement of definitions.

Main Results:

• Operationalized definitions were established for nine terms: "assistance animal", "companion animal", "educational/school support animal", "emotional support animal", "facility animal", "service animal", "skilled companion animal", "therapy animal", and "visiting/visitation animal".
• Key differences and overlaps between these terms were elucidated.
• Recommendations were made to phase out "skilled companion animal" and "service animal" due to terminological overlap.

Conclusions:

• Standardized definitions are crucial for clear communication and accurate application of animal support roles.
• Phasing out ambiguous terms like "skilled companion animal" and "service animal" can mitigate confusion.
• The proposed definitions offer a framework for global application, impacting policy and practice.