Evaluation of current practices for dogs engaged in assistance and therapy support programs within Australia

Abstract

Assistance and therapy dogs play a key role in providing support to humans. There have been limited studies of the health, ethics, and welfare of the dogs involved in these programs. This study sought to identify the current practices relating to the care and management of assistance and therapy dogs within Australia. Online surveys with a focus on dog welfare, behavior, training, and education standards were developed for Australian organizations that train or provide assistance dogs or have an allied health professional working with a therapy dog. Responses were received from 29 assistance dog organizations surveys and 28 therapy dogs in allied health organizations. While there were areas of strong practice, such as requiring health clearances from veterinarians, providing vaccinations, and training in understanding dog body language, there were inconsistencies in requirements for rest times and regular behavioral and health checks. Just over half of the respondent assistance dog organizations have a policy for dogs working in hot weather. Few organizations recommended the avoidance of raw meat diets, and most did not require a negative fecal parasite result. This study identified a range of gaps in the current service provision in relation to dog welfare and highlighted the lack of consistency in current practice. The identified gaps can be used to develop best practice guidelines to ensure the sustainability of the assistance and therapy dog industry.