ROLE OF THERAPY ANIMALS
Role of Therapy Animals
A therapy animal is a sentient being who works alongside the CCAAT Practitioner as co-facilitator(s). Therapy animals may include:
- Horses
- Miniature Horses
- Donkeys
- Dogs
- Cats
- Chickens
- Llamas
- Alpacas
- Rabbits
- Other small mammals








Each animal is viewed and respected as being able to perceive and feel a variety of emotions and experiences. With this ability, they can assist children and adolescents in the areas of physical, social, emotional, psychological, and cognitive functioning. The animal is not viewed as a ‘tool’ in therapy, but as an assistant or co-facilitator; through their spontaneous behaviors and their readiness for interactions, animal assistants provide opportunities and confer innumerable benefits to the therapeutic process.

The role of animal assistant in Child-Centered Animal-Assisted Therapy is to help in providing a therapeutic alliance with the child. An animal can provide a sense of comfort, security, and acceptance to the child. This allows for the encouragement of a positive connection with the animal-assisted therapist to assist in increasing the child’s mental well-being.
In CCAAT, we believe that all animals have the capacity to help children and adolescents connect, grow, and heal. There is a wide spectrum of animals with different needs and abilities. Each animal possesses different characteristics, personalities, and experiences. It is through this variety of animals and their spontaneous interactions that children and adolescents can connect and learn lessons to help their own growth.

There is a wide spectrum of animals used in therapy, all with different needs and abilities. Each animal possesses different characteristics, personalities, and experiences. Each animal is viewed and respected as being able to perceive and feel a variety of emotions. The animal is therefore not viewed as a “tool” in therapy, but as an assistant or co-facilitator; we welcome their spontaneous behaviours as they provide opportunities and innumerable benefits to the therapeutic process. They can assist children and adolescents in the areas of physical, social, emotional, psychological, and cognitive functioning.
Child-Centered Animal-Assisted Therapy is based upon the Biophilia Hypothesis, which believes that humans possess a genetically-based propensity to tune into other living organisms in the environment. When in the presence of animals, humans’ nervous systems relax, thereby reducing cortisol levels, and reducing arousal and anxiety.
Child-Centered Animal-Assisted Therapy allows children and adolescents to form a unique therapeutic alliance; it provides a sense of comfort, security, and acceptance. This allows for the encouragement of positive connection with the CCAAT Practitioner. At CCAATA, we believe all animals have the capacity to help children and adolescents connect, grow, and heal.
CCAATA Code of Practice For The Care And Handling Of Therapy Animals
CCAATA supports the National Farm Animal Care Counsil, Department for Environmental Food & Rural Affairs, and Camelid Health for guidelines regarding the care and handling of animals involved in therapy.
