Therapy Animals What Are Therapy Animals? A therapy animal is an animal that is trained to give comfort, friendship and love. Dogs and cats are the most common, however, horses, fish, birds and guinea pigs can also be trained. What Do Therapy Animals Do? A therapy animal wears a special collar or coat to help people identify that they are working. Together with their owner, they will visit people in schools, hospitals and nursing homes. Therapy animals are trained to let people gently pat them, talk to them and sometimes hold them. In schools, therapy animals help children with their learning or when they need to be cheered up. Students can read to the animals, sit and pat them, spend time talking to them or take them for walks. Schools that have a therapy animal have reported an increase in student’s attendance. Many schools have also found that reading levels have increased after students have spent time reading to an animal. Another benefit is the increase in positive behaviours amongst students. It has been found that therapy animals help to create a soothing atmosphere, creating a sense of calm when students are feeling stressed, anxious or even angry. Why Have a Therapy Animal? visit twinkl.com.au Page 1 of 2
Therapy Animals Questions 1. What is a therapy animal? 2. What types of animals can be therapy animals? 3. How can you tell that an animal is working as a therapy animal? 4. Where might a therapy dog be invited to visit? 5. List three things that a therapy animal might do in a school: 1. 2. 3. 6. Why do you think schools have therapy animals? 7. What positive differences do therapy animals make to students? Page 2 of 2 visit twinkl.com.au
Therapy Animals Answers 1. What is a therapy animal? A therapy animal is an animal trained to provide comfort, friendship and love. 2. What types of animals can be therapy animals? The most common type of animals are dogs and cats, however other animals such as horses, fish, birds and guinea pigs can be trained. 3. How can you tell that an animal is working as a therapy animal? A therapy animal will wear a special collar or coat to show they are working. 4. Where might a therapy dog be invited to visit? Therapy animals visit schools, hospitals and nursing homes. 5. List three things that a therapy animal might do in a school: Answers will vary but should include, listen to a child read, go for a walk, sit and be patted or cuddle. 6. Why do you think schools have therapy animals? Answers might include: Therapy animals have increased school attendance. Reading levels have increased. There has been an increase in positive behaviours. 7. What positive differences do therapy animals make to students? Answers might include: Therapy animals help with learning. Students can exercise by taking the dogs for walks. Therapy animals create a sense of calm, helping stressed or anxious students to stay calm. visit twinkl.com.au
Therapy Animals What Are Therapy Animals? A therapy animal is an animal that is trained to give comfort, friendship and love. Dogs and cats are the most common types of therapy animals, however, horses, fish, birds and guinea pigs can also be trained. What Do Therapy Animals Do? A therapy animal wears a special collar or coat to help people identify that they are working. Together with their owner or handler, they will visit people in schools, hospitals and nursing homes. Therapy animals are trained to let people gently pat them, talk to them and sometimes hold them. In schools, therapy animals help children with their learning or when they need to be cheered up. Students can read to the animals, sit and pat them, spend time talking to them or take them for walks. Schools that have a therapy animal have reported an increase in attendance. Many schools have also found that reading levels have increased after students have spent time reading to an animal. Another benefit is the increase in positive behaviours amongst students. It has been found that therapy animals help to create a soothing atmosphere, creating a sense of calm when students are feeling stressed, anxious or even angry. Why Have a Therapy Animal? Page 1 of 2 visit twinkl.com.au
Therapy Animals Questions 1. What is a therapy animal? 2. Which animals can be trained as therapy animals? 3. How can you tell that an animal is working as a therapy animal? 4. Where might a therapy dog be invited to visit? 5. What activities might you do with a therapy animal? 6. Why do you think schools and hospitals have therapy animals? 7. What positive differences do therapy animals make to students? Page 2 of 2 visit twinkl.com.au
Therapy Animals Answers 1. What is a therapy animal? A therapy animal is an animal trained to provide comfort, friendship and love. 2. Which animals can be trained as therapy animals? Dogs, cats, horses, fish, birds and guinea pigs can be trained as therapy animals. 3. How can you tell that an animal is working as a therapy animal? A therapy animal will wear a special collar or coat to show they are working. 4. Where might a therapy dog be invited to visit? Therapy animals visit schools, hospitals and nursing homes. 5. What activities might you do with a therapy animal? Answers will vary but should include, listen to a child read, go for a walk, sit and be patted or cuddle. 6. Why do you think schools and hospitals have therapy animals? Answers might include: Therapy animals are a comfort to people who are unwell or upset. Therapy animals help with learning and help students to exercise. 7. What positive differences do therapy animals make to students? Answers might include: Students want to come to school. Student’s learning improves. The students exercise more when they take the animals for walks. visit twinkl.com.au
Therapy Animals What Are Therapy Animals? A therapy animal is an animal that is trained to give comfort, friendship and love. Dogs and cats are the most common types of therapy animals, however, horses, fish, birds and guinea pigs can also be trained. Unlike assistance or service animals, a therapy animal is a pet that is trained to connect and bond with humans. They do not provide medical aid and are not trained to assist a person with disabilities. What Do Therapy Animals Do? A therapy animal wears a special collar or coat to help people identify that they are working. Together with their owner or handler, they will visit people in schools, hospitals and nursing homes. Therapy animals are trained to let people gently pat them, talk to them and sometimes hold them. In schools, therapy animals help children with their learning or when they need to be cheered up. Students can read to the animals, sit and pat them, spend time talking to them or take them for walks. The therapy animal is trained to remain calm around children. Schools that have a therapy animal have reported an increase in attendance. Many schools have also found that reading levels have increased after students have spent time sharing reading. Another benefit is the increase in positive behaviours amongst students. It has been found that therapy animals help to create a soothing atmosphere, creating a sense of calm when students are feeling stressed, anxious or even angry. The therapy animal provides support in difficult situations by being present with a person under stress. Why Have a Therapy Animal? Page 1 of 2 visit twinkl.com.au
Therapy Animals Questions 1. Why do you think dogs make a good therapy animal? 2. What is the difference between a therapy animal and an assistant animal? 3. Where might a therapy dog be invited to visit and why? 4. What activities might you do with a therapy animal? 5. Why do you think schools have therapy animals? 6. What positive differences do therapy animals make to students? 7. Do you think our school should have a therapy animal? Why? Page 2 of 2 Page 1 of 1 visit twinkl.com.au
Therapy Animals Answers 1. Why do you think dogs make a good therapy animal? Answers might include: Dogs are social animals. Dogs love cuddles. Dogs are a popular pet. Dogs are used as service animals and are use to humans. 2. What is the difference between a therapy animal and an assistant animal? A therapy dog is not trained to give medical help or help a disabled person. 3. Where might a therapy dog be invited to visit and why? Therapy animals visit schools, hospitals and nursing homes. 4. What activities might you do with a therapy animal? Answers will vary but should include, listen to a child read, go for a walk, sit and be patted and cuddle. 5. Why do you think schools have therapy animals? Answers might include: Therapy animals help students stay calm. Students like taking pets for a walk, talking to them or reading to them. 6. What positive differences do therapy animals make to students? Answers might include: Students want to come to school. Student’s learning improves. The students exercise more when they take the animals for walks. 7. Do you think our school should have a therapy animal? Why? Answers might include: Yes because a therapy animal will help with our learning. Yes because people can improve their reading. Yes because people can get upset and angry sometimes and a therapy animal would teach them how to behave more appropriately. visit twinkl.com.au