Introduction

In Module 2 we focused on how to interact with therapy dog program participants in ways that are respectful of their diversity so that we are providing them with an inclusive therapy dog experience. In Module 3 we took this further and specifically discussed the importance of interacting with therapy dog program participants in trauma-informed ways. In Module 4, we focused on the importance of assessing your own mental health as a therapy dog handler, and strategies to attend to your emotional, spiritual, mental, and physical wellness as you interact with therapy dog participants in a range of environments. This final module spotlights how to ensure the health and happiness of your therapy dog – an area of consideration that is attracting increased attention by therapy dog programs – and rightfully so!

To start off, consider the outcomes of a recent evaluation of the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program on a mental health range at Stony Mountain Institution, a federal multi-sector prison located outside of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Our team concluded that participants experienced meaningful benefits visiting and connecting with the therapy dogs. However, like with the majority Animal Assisted Activity studies, this research did not assess the impact of the visits on the therapy dog teams. Just like we reviewed in the prior modules that each handler and therapy dog participant we visit with has a unique background and personality and can react differently to varying visiting situations, this is also true of each therapy dog.

Visiting St. John Ambulance therapy dogs and handlers undergo a national standardized evaluation and it is up to the handler to determine the environments they and their dog are best suited to visit. Consider, for example, that a prison can be challenging place to visit because prisoners are subject to the harshness of prison culture, the impacts of isolation and constant supervision, and fear of violent behavior. Given that dogs can smell hormones related to stress, visiting therapy dogs are likely tuning in to such tension in prisoners if it exists. It is possible that some therapy dogs will experience discomfort in certain environments (like a prison, or a hectic hospital emergency room) or even when interacting with certain groups of people (such as high-energy children). It is very important to identify which interactions are well suited to your therapy dog’s personality and which are not. This module considers ways to become more aware of behaviors your dog will use to tell you how they feel and will help you develop skills to best ensure their mental and emotional health.

Animal Ethics and Traditional Indigenous Perspectives

Animal Assisted Activities, such as therapy dog visiting, are rooted in an animal ethics perspective that recognizes animals as living beings with thoughts, feelings, and emotions not unlike those of people. Animal rights advocates oppose practices of speciesism, or the commonplace belief that animals are morally inferior to humans (Animal Ethics, 2021). While disturbing forms of speciesism include the way animals are mistreated by some food industries, cosmetics manufacturers, and pharmaceutical companies, any instance where animals are subject to treatment that does not recognize their rights and freedoms is potentially problematic (Animal Ethics, 2021). You can even think about how speciesism seeps into our everyday conversations and is reinforced with anti-animal language. Think of common sayings that might be problematic, such as “kill two birds with one stone” and “be a guinea pig”. Our words matter!

Given that many therapy dog programs visit with clients who experience historical and intergenerational forms of trauma, it is important to consider how endorsing an animal ethics perspective is compatible with Indigenous worldviews and ways of knowing, and how it can challenge colonial thinking and actions and support reconciliation. The final report of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission (2015: 18) shares the following:

For example, while Indigenous cultures make use of animals for food and the production of necessary goods, they traditionally respect the spirit that all living creatures have and honor the sacrifice made by the animals (McGinnis, Kincaid, Barrett, Ham and Community Elders Research Advisory Group, 2019).

For some Indigenous program participants, engaging in therapy dog visiting may provide them with an experience and a celebration of traditional Indigenous ways of being. For example, our team’s 2018 paper in the Journal of Indigenous HIV Research shares that a program participant “wants the [therapy dog] program to be more widely available to other Indigenous people”. Let’s learn more about a few organizations and individuals that promote animal ethics as a way of pursuing reconciliation and revitalizing Indigenous perspectives. This is an equally important consideration in the associated therapy dog field.

Figure 5-2: Logo for the NAHS. Source: Permission: This material has been reproduced in accordance with the University of Saskatchewan interpretation of Sec.30.04 of the Copyright Act.

The Native American Humane Society

The Native America Humane Society (NAHS) assists tribal communities in the United States to form relationships with animal welfare service provider organizations. These services empower communities to engage with and manage local animal populations, and reinvigorate cultural practices involving animals, in ways that align with traditional perspectives based in animal ethics. For more information, visit the NAHS website at https://www.nativeamericahumane.org/.

Figure 5-3: Dr. Michael Yellowbird. Source: Permission: This material has been reproduced in accordance with the University of Saskatchewan interpretation of Sec.30.04 of the Copyright Act.

Dr. Michael Yellowbird

The work of Dr. Yellow Bird, the Dean of Social Work at the University of Manitoba,  challenges the influence the colonial mindset has on the relationship Indigenous communities have with animals. Yellowbird’s research and advocacy focuses on the devastating impacts of colonization on Indigenous peoples’ relationship with dogs, both with regard to lost cultural practices and contemporary community policies on the management of ‘Rez Dog’ (undomesticated dogs on reservation land) populations. To learn more about Dr. Yellow Birds’ research, visit his website at https://www.indigenousmindfulness.com/.

Figure 5-4: Save Rez Dogs logo. Source: Permission: This material has been reproduced in accordance with the University of Saskatchewan interpretation of Sec.30.04 of the Copyright Act.

Save Rez Dogs

Founded by Leah Arcand from Muskeg Lake Cree Nation in Saskatchewan, Save Rez Dogs draws from Indigenous perspectives to assist communities to develop dog management strategies that promote animal ethics. Save Rez Dogs is a non-profit group staffed entirely by volunteers and raises funding through the sale of (very stylish and affordable) clothing and merchandise. Leah Arcand also offers consulting services and can be contacted to arrange presentations to better assist the development of dog management strategies that honor their rights and empower community bonds in line with traditional perspectives. For more information, please visit https://saverezdogs.com/.

The Five Freedoms and Five Domains of Animal Welfare

Animal welfare organizations throughout the world collectively support standards of practice that they believe all animal handlers should acknowledge and respect. For example, numerous animal welfare organizations, including Humane Canada (2017), support the five freedoms of animal welfare to help ensure the humane treatment of animals. This ranges from dairy cows through to backyard hens. The 5 freedoms are:

1. Freedom from hunger and thirst
2. Freedom from discomfort
3. Freedom from pain, injury or disease
4. Freedom to express normal behavior
5. Freedom from fear and distress

While these five freedoms are consistent with ethical treatment, their focus on the prevention of harm has led to suggestions that greater attention should be paid to the equally important duty of providing positive welfare. Positive Welfare involves giving animals the freedom to attend to whatever activities bring them feelings of joy and free will. When you provide your therapy dog opportunities to play, visit with other animals, and enjoy time ‘off the clock’ to relax and go about their business, you are actively contributing to their positive welfare.

Other animal welfare organizations and Animal Assisted Activity scholars approach the overall welfare of animals as consisting of five domains of physical and mental health (Peralta and Fine, 2021; Mellor, Beausoleil et al., 2020). The ‘five domains’ reflect the importance of the ‘five freedoms’, while also accounting for the benefits animals receive when handlers attend to providing positive welfare. Physical welfare is associated with the domains of Nutrition, Environment, Health and Behavior, while mental welfare is related to the fifth domain of mental state.

Figure 5-5: The Five Domains of Animal Welfare. Permission: Courtesy of course author Colleen Anne Dell, Department of Sociology, University of Saskatchewan, based on Mellor, D., et al, (2020). The 2020 Five Domains Model: Including Human–Animal Interactions in Assessments of Animal Welfare. Animals 2020, 10(10), (p. 3).

We will soon turn our attention from principles for the ethical treatment of animals generally to principles more explicitly related to therapy dogs. First, however, it may be worthwhile to check in on how well you can recall the five freedoms of animal welfare, the five domains of animal welfare, and give you an opportunity to consider the close relationship between the two.

Handler Story (Jager and Grace)

Please watch the following video.

Written content and video by Grace Rath.

Ethical Principles for Therapy Dog Visiting & The Therapy Dog Bill of Rights

The start of this module highlighted the importance of being aware that as a therapy dog team you may encounter environments that your dog may not be suited to visiting in, such as a tense prison or hectic hospital emergency department. You also may not know this until you are in a specific situation. Grace’s story demonstrates the high likelihood that you may also encounter situations during a visit that can cause your dog to feel stress or discomfort. Grace’s reflections show how a handler can quickly come up with creative ways to reduce stress for their dog and continue with an enjoyable visit for the dog, themselves, and the people participating. Grace’s quick thinking during the visit reflects the attention she was paying to Jager’s welfare.

There has been a great deal of thought and increased research over the past decade or so on what ethical practice involves for handlers during a therapy dog visit. Animal Assisted Activity scholarship has identified four ethical principles for therapy dog handlers to apply during visiting sessions to best reduce their dog’s discomfort and respect their freedoms. These are: Respect for Autonomy, Nonmaleficance, Beneficience, and Justice (Glenk and Foltin, 2021). Indeed, a couple of these terms may look complex and intimidating, but don’t worry – the practices they relate to are very simple (and they won’t be on a final exam).

1. Respect for autonomy involves a handler recognizing and respecting the decisions their therapy dog is making in any given situation. If your dog behaves in a way to suggest they would rather not be in a certain environment, it is important to respect their decision. That said, you may encounter situations when your dog indicates that they do not care much for the company of a specific individual and you are faced with the conundrum of balancing respect for the autonomy of your dog and the principle of granting the therapy dog program participant an opportunity for therapeutic interactions with your partner. In this instance, it may be best to purse a middle-ground by allowing the individual an opportunity to engage with your dog, but ensuring your dog’s interactions with the client are brief and intervene should your dog indicate any signs of distress.
2. Nonmaleficance refers to a handler’s commitment to not inflict pain, suffering, or harm of any kind onto their therapy dog, and that they will not expose their dog to physical force or mental trauma. Abiding by this principle would prohibit a handler from forcibly making their dog enter an environment they would prefer to avoid or scolding them for keeping their distance from certain people.
3. Beneficence refers to a handler’s commitment to take responsibility for the safety and protection of their therapy dog above all other goals, and to act to prevent the dog harm in the wake of any threatening situation. This duty would call for the handler to keep their dog away from individuals should they be believed to mean harm to the dog or removing the dog from situations and environments where they believe the dog’s safety may be at risk.
4. Finally, committing to justice involves the therapy dog perceiving that they, not the program participant, is of primary importance to the handler. Dogs are particularly perceptive to situations when a handler may be paying more attention to an individual than to themselves or treating the dog differently with respect to a situation. This can lead your dog to feel neglected and have a negative influence on their mental wellbeing.

These ethical principles for practice are closely linked with the Therapy Dog’s Bill of Rights, as designed by our final guest speaker, Ann Howie. This collection of thirteen principles for best practice are closely related to the freedoms and domains of animal welfare discussed above, as well as the practices Ann discusses to prepare a Basic Care Routine for therapy dog visiting in the later stages of her presentation.

Program Participant Perspectives (Speaker – Ann Howie)

Dog Behavior and Stress

The first segment of Ann’s video discusses common behaviors your dog may exhibit if they are feeling stressed or experiencing distress. Ann talks about how dogs use their body language to communicate what they are feeling to their handlers, and notes that they sometimes indicate that they are feeling anxious or uncomfortable in ways that are misunderstood by humans. Ann’s presentation may lead you to uncomfortably reflect on times when you may have misread the body language of your therapy dog – Ann discusses a similar experience – but rest assured this overview will increase your awareness of ways to help make sure this oversight is not repeated moving forward.

Please watch the following video.

To this point, Ann has discussed a few of many possible examples of body language that suggests a dog may be feeling stress. On a related and paws-itive (positive) note, research surrounding Animal Assisted Activities is taking an increased interest in determining the best ways to assess whether participating in a therapy dog program is causing undue stress for dogs. In 2021, Glenk and Foltin reviewed a number of studies that measured stress in therapy dogs during visits through rigorous scientific means. Purely for the sake of interest, some of these methods are:

• Measuring heart rate: Stressful situations can be associated with a rise in heartrate or the onset of a more erratic or unstable heartrate. Noting the presence of heartrate that is different than ‘baseline’ assessments taken when a dog is relaxed can help identify environments or interactions that cause a dog stress.
• Measuring respiratory rate: Similar to heart rate, assessing notable changes in the breathing pattern of a dog can indicate they are experiencing stress – this is especially evident should their breathing increase in speed or become erratic.
• Measuring tympanic ear membrane temperature: Increases or variability in a dog’s body temperature can also indicate a change in stress level. Should a dog love experiences with digital thermometers (as all dogs and children of course do) the normal range for canine tympanic ear membrane temperature sits at 36.6 to 38.8 degrees Celsius (Hall, 2017). Temperature readings above or below that range can indicate stress (as well as additional possible health issues).
• Measuring salivary cortisol: Cortisol is a hormone associated with stress, and increases in cortisol due to stressful situations can be drawn from a sample of saliva and professionally analyzed in a veterinary science laboratory.

Based on measures such as these, Glen and Foltin (2021:226) concluded in their review that “safeguarding therapy dog well-being, and identifying situations, circumstances and protocols that may challenge animal welfare remains an emerging and crucial area of scientific effort”. Being aware of this and being committed to observing and understanding your dog’s behavior during your therapy dog visit is important to determining whether your dog is feeling stressed. There are additional ways to communicate with your therapy dog that you may not have considered, such as intuitive interspecies communication, which complements Indigenous ways of knowing. To learn more, see the work of McGinnis and colleagues.

Common Canine Behaviors

In the next segment of the video, Ann elaborates on the significance of different types of behavior your dog may use to ‘speak out’ to you should they be feeling distressed, anxious, threatened, or forced to act against their will.

Please watch the following video.

To this point, Ann has discussed the significance of ensuring your therapy dog is sheltered from experiencing distress and identified behaviors on their part that can be interpreted to suggest they are expressing a lack of pleasure or consent for the circumstance they are in. The following activity will help you to apply your awareness of what different types of dog behavior mean, as well as develop your skills for effectively responding to what your therapy dog is communicating to you while you are out and about serving your community.

Basic Care Routine

Next, Ann will discuss the importance of developing a care routine, or an organized schedule for you and your therapy dog, to best maintain their welfare and mental health prior to, during, and following therapy dog visits.

Please watch the following video.

Down the road, if you want a refresher on possible care routine activities or some more specific guidance in alignment with popular therapy dog ethics, you can consult the Animal Assisted Intervention International Standards of Practice (2019) for a detailed and expansive overview of care routine possibilities. You can also have a look at some of the resources Ann recommends at the end of her presentation.