There has been an increased interest in having students read to dogs and dogs interacting with intellectually and physically disabled students in schools.  Dogs and, to a more limited extent, other animals have also been used in other venues: day care centers, nursing facilities and children's hospitals. The goal of animal assisted therapy is for the dog to display unconditional  affection and companionship in order to raise a client's spirits, reduce stress and promote the client's general well being. Therapy dogs can also be used to work with clients who have difficulty focusing and communicating. Research has shown that working with dogs can also assist with physical therapy and cognitive awareness.     
      Volunteers have traditionally provided animal assisted therapy. Currently, recent surveys show, that animal assisted therapists are taking their place alongside other healthcare professionals such as art and music therapists. PAWSitive Animal Therapy LLC, based in Barkhamsted, Connecticut, proposes to formalize animal assisted therapy so that it can be incorporated into the formal education plan of students with special needs. It will provide a reliable and accountable form of therapy similar to occupational therapy or music therapy. The type and duration of therapy to be employed will be determined by the client's educational and/or healthcare providers.      
   

      There are advantages to hiring a professional animal assisted therapy organization  such as PAWSitive Animal Therapy LLC to work in your school or health-care facility. A qualified outside organization already has the necessary training, certification, experience and insurance requirements in place that are necessary for a successful program. Before recommending an animal assisted therapy program for a client there are many factors that should be taken into consideration. These factors include: the activities and interactions that have been exhibited by the client; the demographics of the population expected to be exposed to the therapy animal; the number of clients expected to be scheduled for animal therapy participation in any one session; length and number of sessions per day or week; identification and notification of clients and staff who may have allergic reactions or a fear of  the animal; guarantee of  confidentiality; design and layout of the space provided for the animal and handler;  routes of access into and out of the building in relationship to student and traffic flow; securing the animal and provision for outside rest breaks; and responsibilities for cleaning up the area used by the animal.     
       By hiring PAWSitive Animal Therapy LLC rather than relying on volunteers the therapy can be made a part of a child's individual education plan with the security of knowing that service to the client will be provided on a regular, reliable, and confidential basis by certified and insured individuals.