AN ACT CONCERNING ANIMAL THERAPY

SUMMARY: This act requires the Department of Children and Families (DCF), by January 1, 2014 and within available appropriations, to:

1. develop and implement training for certain DCF staff and mental health care providers on the (a) healing value of the human-animal bond for children, (b) value of therapy animals in dealing with traumatic situations, and (c) benefit of an animal-assisted therapy program and

2. consult with the Department of Agriculture commissioner to identify a coordinated volunteer canine crisis response team.

It also requires DCF, by July 1, 2014 and within available appropriations, to consult with the Governor's Prevention Partnership and the animal-assisted therapy community to develop a crisis response program using the response team to provide animal-assisted therapy to children and youths living with trauma and loss.

These teams must (1) consist of various handlers and dogs who have been trained, evaluated, and registered by an animal-assisted activity organization to provide aid to people during and after traumatic events; (2) operate on a volunteer basis; and (3) be available to provide animal-assisted therapy within 24 hours of receiving notice to do so.

1. “animal-assisted therapy” as goal-directed intervention in which animals are used as an integral part of the crisis response process to aid people who have experienced mental, physical, or emotional trauma;

2. “animal-assisted therapy community” as the local or regional entities capable of providing animal-assisted therapy to people within the state; and

3. “animal-assisted activity organization” as any entity involved in training, evaluating, and registering members of the animal-assisted therapy community.