Table 2.
Summary of health and safety policies in 27 regional and local therapy animal organizations
| Number of Organizations, (%) | |
|---|---|
| Permits animals with disabilities | 26 (96%) |
| Requires rabies vaccination | 25 (93%) |
| Requires veterinary examination | 20 (74%) |
| Requires fecal test | 20 (74%) |
| Prohibits raw meat diet | 5 (19%)1 |
| Provides liability insurance†† | 19 (70%)1 |
| Permits non-dog species* | 13 (48%) |
| Requires only Canine Good-Citizen® certificate** | 9 (33%) |
| Requires regular behavioral retest† | 14 (52%) |
*
Examples of other species included cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, and horses.
**
A 10-step behavioral certification course of the American Kennel Club®
†
Of the 14 groups requiring retest, four reported requiring an annual retest, the others did not note frequency.
††
Two survey respondents selected “we provide liability insurance” but noted in writing that participants needed to provide their own insurance.
1
Three organizations did not answer this question.