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ANIMAL-ASSISTED THERAPY
WHAT IS ANIMAL-ASSISTED THERAPY IN OT?
Animal-Assisted Therapy isn't just about spending time with a friendly animal it is a goal-directed clinical intervention. When paired with Occupational Therapy, a certified therapy dog becomes a powerful motivator and tool to help participants develop life skills.
A therapy dog can help participants work on:
🚀 Fine & Gross Motor Skills
🚀 Sensory and Emotional Regulation
🚀 Social and Communication Skills
🚀 Executive Functioning
MEET OUR THERAPY DOG ZEENA
Zeena is a beautiful whippet with a heart of gold, a cheeky personality, and a very important job! Don’t let her sleek, athletic build fool you Zeena is the ultimate creature of comfort. While she loves to run as fast as her legs will carry her outdoors, her absolute favourite pastime is being tightly wrapped up in a cozy blanket (yes, even in the middle of summer!).
A FEW OF ZEENA'S FAVORITE THINGS
Delicious treats (the faster they arrive, the better).
Attention and gentle pats, just not on top of her head, please! She prefers a nice back scratch or chest rub.
Curling up for a deep nap.
HER EXPERIENCE
Zeena has worked in school environments; she is unfazed by unpredictable settings and loud noises.
HOW OUR PROGRAM WORKS
To ensure the highest standard of care and comfort for everyone, our animal-assisted program operates under a few key guidelines:
Always Optional, Never Mandatory: We completely respect that dogs aren’t for everyone. Whether due to allergies, fear, cultural reasons, or personal preference, choosing to include a therapy dog in your care is 100% optional.
Zeena + Pippa: Zeena only works with Pippa, and she has limited "working hours" to ensure her own well-being. Because of this, Pippa runs many of her standard Occupational Therapy sessions without Zeena present.
Tailored to You: If you are working with Pippa, she will collaborate with you to determine if, when, and how Zeena can be introduced to best support your specific therapy goals.