Table 3. Participant, facilitator and animal characteristics.

No.	1st Author	Description of Participants	Age	Sex	Facilitators	Canines
1	Hamama, L.	• Intervention group: teenagers from a selected high school, identified by the school counsellor and having experienced physical or sexual abuse 3–4 years prior, low achievements in school and interpersonal difficulties, who consented to attend. • Comparison group: matched by school, age, without a history of abuse or interpersonal difficulties	14–16 years	F = 18	• Facilitators—Two social work students. • Supervisor–Master Social Worker and animal-assisted therapist	Canines that were matched to each participant
2	Hanselman, J. L.	Adolescents self-selected or court mandated to attend an Anger Management Group who were interviewed (screened) for intellectual ability and age.	14–16 years	F = 2 M = 5	Facilitators– 2 counsellors	Two canines
3	Hartwig, E.	Children referred for counselling by parents, schools or agencies for emotional issues. Presenting issues were varied, including grief, loss, anxiety, depression and self-concept in the contexts of school, home and family, and who consented. Participants were screened and excluded for fears, allergies or history of abuse to animals	10–18 years	F = 16 M = 13	• Facilitators—Professional and student counsellors who had completed Pet Partners Handler Course • Supervisor–Professional counsellor with interest and training in animal assisted therapy	Counsellors own canines, assessed as appropriate through training and assessment, and evaluated by Pet Partners as suitable to work in complex environments
4	Lange, A. M.	Adolescents who consented to attend an anger management group	13–16 years	F = 2 M = 3	Facilitator–an experienced counsellor with an interest and training in animal assisted therapy	A specially selected canine assessed for temperament and obedience by Therapy Canines International evaluators and vet checked.
5	Lubbe, C.	A boy who attended therapy after being admitted to a place of safety by his mother. He had a history of school refusal, and facial scarring from a benzene bomb injury when young.	14 years	M = 1	Facilitator—Masters level student in Educational Psychology	One small canine
6	Stefanini, 2015	Children and adolescents with a psychiatric diagnosis who were patients (for 2 weeks to 3–4 months) at the acute psychiatry unit of the Meyer Pediatric Hospital. ICD-9 diagnoses included mood disorders, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, and eating disorders	11–17 years	F = 9 M = 8 Per condition	• I = Facilitators–staff member, animal-handler trained in AAT • I & C = TAU hospital staff	Canines examined by vet to Pet Partners sanitary protocol
7	Stefanini, 2016	Children and adolescents with severe psychiatric diagnoses who were inpatients (for 2 weeks to 3–4 months) of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Unit of the Meyer Pediatric Hospital. ICD -10 diagnoses included mood disorders, anxiety disorders and eating disorders.	11–17 years	F = 11 M = 9 Per condition	• I = Facilitators–registered psychologist, animal-handler trained in AAT • I & C = TAU hospital staff	Canine and Handler teams matched to each participant, certified with National School for Guide Canines for the Blind, and vet checked

F = female, M = male; I = intervention group or experimental group, C = control or comparison group; ICD-9/10 International Classification of Diseases Ninth revision/tenth revision; TAU = Treatment as Usual