Loyola University Chicago’s Therapy Dog: Use of Canine

Therapy on a College Campus

Agenda

• Introductions

• Rationale for a therapy dog program on a college campus

• Utilization of therapy dog at Loyola

• Development of policy and procedures

• Identify what type of dog works best

• Lessons learned

Introductions

• Human Providers:

Joan Holden, APN

Associate Director, Loyola Wellness Center

Dianna Stencel, MSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Loyola Wellness Center

• Animal provider :

Tivo- Certified Therapy Dog, Loyola Wellness Center

Rationale – the Story

• Our first encounter

• Reading about benefits

• Canine Therapy Corp

• More reading about benefits

• “What if we had our own dog?”

Well documented health benefits

Click icon to add picture

Improve mood

Impact on stress related parameters such as

cortisol, heart rate and blood pressure.

Self reports on fear & anxiety

Interpersonal interactions

Rational – The Loyola Model

A novel way to reach out to students and de-stigmatize therapy and provide another

therapeutic service.

Ways dogs serveService Dogs Therapy Dogs

(Animal Assisted Interventions)

Emotional Support Animal

Individually trained to perform tasks and mitigate their handlers’ disabilities.

Also receive extensive training to provide psychological or physiological therapy to individuals other than their handlers

Not required to undergo specialized training. Provide their disabled owners with emotional comfort. 

One dog to one person

One dog for many clients

One dog to one person

Handlers’ rights to be accompanied by these dogs in establishments open to the public are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Not protected by ADA

Not protected by ADA

Definitions Animal Assisted Activities

AAAAnimal Assisted Therapy

AAT

Casual ‘meet & greet’ activities that involve animals visiting people

Significant part of treatment for people with physically, socially, emotionally and/or cognitive challenges

No specific treatment goals planned

Stated goals for each session

Same activity can be used with many people

Individual treatment for each patient

Visit content is spontaneous Visit is scheduled, usually at planned intervals

Visit can be long or short as desired

Length of visit is pre-determined to best fit needs of patient

Therapeutic activities

• Talk with Tivo

• Wellness events

• Individual therapy

• Group therapy

• Comfort animal

Other Duties as Assigned

• Facebook Page (share prevention information, promotes Wellness Center, build community)

• Attends Events (promotes Wellness Center, build community)

• Other projects & collaborations (build community)

What type of dog works best?

• Decision on breed

• Prior history of the dog

• Training background

• Certification

Nationally

Therapy Dog International, Pet Partners

Local (to Chicago)

Canine Therapy Corp, Rainbow Therapy Dogs

Tivo’s Performance Review

"To understand the impact and affection that Tivo garners on campus, you have to understand that we have Sr. Jean, a spry and ever-happy, 94-year-old nun who is also the Men's Basketball Team chaplain. She is the most popular person on campus....on two legs. Then, Tivo rivals her on four."  

Fr Michael Garanzini, S.J. - President Loyola University

Chicago

Tivo’s Performance Review

“ Tivo has the ability to help build the relationships that

support students to succeed at Loyola. And despite being busy, he seems to

enjoy it and always wants to give more.

For me, he is an ideal staff member.”

Fr. Justin Daffron, S.J. Associate Provost for Academic Services

Policy: safe use of the therapy dog

• Leashed at all times

• Updated health records

• Supervised with students

• Registration updated annually

• No food from students, faculty or staff

• Registered through a pet assisted therapy organization

Continued

• Grooming/Hygiene

• One handler

• Bathroom etiquette

• Behavior management

• Minimum age requirement

Setting up program

• Housing arrangements

• Managing campus partners

• Managing multiple handlers

• Managing Tivo’s work space & schedule

• Learning to say NO.

For consideration

• Financial Implications

• Legal Implications

• Human Resources

• Daily Care

• Vacations

• Managing Problem Behaviors

• Scheduling Issues

Lessons Learned

Discussion & Questions

Resources

• Certification and more about AAI

Nationally

Therapy Dog International,

Pet Partners (formerly Delta Society)

Local (to Chicago)

Canine Therapy Corp,

Rainbow Therapy Dogs

More resources: books

Animal Assisted Therapy in Counseling. Routledge. 2011. Cynthia K. Chandler.

Handbook on Animal Assisted Therapy: Theoretical Foundations and Guidelines for Practice. Academic Press, 2010. Aubrey H. Fine.

The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs. Ballantine Books, 2003. Patricia B. McConnell.

The Psychology of the Human-Animal Bond: A Resource for Clinicians and Researchers. Springer, 2011. Christopher Blazina, Guler Boyra, David Shen-Miller (editors).

More resources: Articles

Health Benefits of Animal-Assisted Interventions. Morrison, Michele L. Complementary Health Practice Review, 2007 Jan; 12(1): 51-62.

Psychosocial and Psychophysiological Effects of Human-Animal Interactions: The Possible Role of Oxytocin. Beetz, Andrea; Uvnas-Moberg, Kerstin & Kotrschal. Front Psychol. 2012; 3: 234.

Who Let the Dog out? Implementing a Successful Therapy Dog Program in an Academic Law Library. Aiken, Julian & Cadmus, Femi. HeinOnline -21 Trends L. Libr. Mgmt. & Tech. 13 2011