Volunteering With Your Pet: How to Get Involved in Animal-Assisted Therapy With Any Kind of Pet

As more people get involved in the field of animal-assisted activities and animal-assisted therapy (AAA/T), it is important that references written by experienced, credible professionals are available to a wide audience. This will ensure the safety and benefit of all those involved in AAA/T. This book is just such a reference. It doesn't just apply to volunteers--health and human service professionals will also find this book to be an invaluable resource. I initially picked up the book because I'm familiar with Mary's work in the field of AAA/T. I found myself reading the entire book in one evening. A week later, when I was preparing myself to be a guest on a radio show about AAA/T, the book became my primary reference and provided some examples. Particularly helpful are the descriptions of the various client populations and facilities that a volunteer may visit. The suggestions for activities for each population and facility will be useful for the volunteer and professional, alike. Case studies are provided to illustrate how to apply the recommended activities. The safety and enjoyment of the animals that participate in AAA/T is also addressed, ensuring that they will benefit from the experience. Applying the information contained in Mary's book will help increase the acceptance of AAA/T as an effective tool in the improvement of the health and lives of the clients who receive and participate in this method of therapy. I highly recommend this book.