Animals in Animal-Assisted Services: Are They Volunteers or Professionals?

Area of Science:

• Animal-assisted services (AAS)
• Animal welfare
• Ethology

Background:

• The growing use of animals in services like therapy and education raises concerns about their welfare.
• Lack of standardized 'job descriptions' for animals in various roles complicates welfare assessments.
• Current terminology for animal roles (e.g., 'volunteer', 'therapy animal') is inconsistent.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish clear welfare standards for animals in assisted services.
• To compare the roles and obligations of human volunteers/professionals with those of animals in therapy.
• To advocate for animal-friendly interventions that promote cooperation and motivation.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of human volunteer/professional roles versus animal roles in therapy.
• Demonstration of obligations associated with labeling animals as 'volunteer' or 'professional'.
• Proposal for using dopamine studies and context-ethograms for objective behavior assessment.

Main Results:

• The study highlights the need for distinct labels (volunteer/professional) for animals in AAS.
• It outlines the ethical and practical obligations tied to these labels for handlers and owners.
• The research emphasizes the importance of animal-friendly practices for enhancing cooperation.

Conclusions:

• Clearer definitions and standards are crucial for ensuring animal welfare in assisted services.
• Labeling animals as 'volunteer' or 'professional' necessitates defined responsibilities.
• Objective behavioral assessment methods, like dopamine studies and ethograms, can improve welfare monitoring.