animal assisted interactions

	AAI prep school students.

When pets visit medical care facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes, they bring with them unconditional love and proven medical benefits. An affectionate, trained companion animal is of immense emotional help to patients and can lead to improvements in physical and mental health.

OHS can help volunteers interested in this rewarding field (officially called Animal Assisted Interactions, or AAI) in two ways:

• If you and your pet are registered to provide services, we can help match you with a facility that would like a visit. Contact the OHS Volunteer Deptartment, email, (503) 285-7722, ext. 204.
  
  
• If you are not registered, we can help train you and your pet to take the AAI evaluation and become registered.

AAI dog visits patient.

The new AAI school at OHS prepares individuals and their animals to take the national Pet Partner Skills & Aptitude Evaluation exam administered by the Delta Society. Pet Partner teams that pass the exam are recognized  as having the skills need to bring animals into health care facilities.

The OHS course is taught by Lori Kirby, an OHS Training and Behavior Specialist who is a licensed Delta Society Pet Partner Team Evaluator.

Upcoming classes are shown below. If you would like to enroll please fill out our online registration or call Lori at 503-416-2983.

AAI 2008 Dates - All Saturdays

Round 1 *Full*

• 5 weeks, January 19th - March 8th

January 19th & 26th         10-12       Prep class         Manners Hall 2

February 2nd                                                             Field Trip

February 9th & 16th         10-12         Prep class       Manners Hall 2

*March 8th                      9-6          EVALUATIONS  Ed Hall

Round 2 *Full*

• 5 weeks, April 12th - May 31st

April 12th & 19th            10-12         Prep class         Manners Hall 2

April 26th                                                                   Field Trip

May 3rd & 10th               10-12        Prep class         Manners Hall 2

*May 31st                       9-6             EVALUATIONS  Ed Hall

Nothing in June

Round 3

• 5 weeks, July 12th - August 30th

July 12th & 19th             10-12         Prep class           Manners Hall 2

July 26th                                                                     Field Trip

August 2nd & 9th            10-12         Prep class          Manners Hall 2

*August 30th                  9-6              EVALUATIONS  Ed Hall

Round 4

• 5 weeks, Sept. 20th - November 8th

Sept. 20th & 27th           10-12         Prep class           Manners Hall 2

October 4th                                                                 Field Trip

October 11th & 18th      10-12         Prep class           Manners Hall 2

*November 8th                9-6              EVALUATIONS  Ed Hall

Nothing in December

After successfully completing the Pet Partner evaluation, Pet Partner teams usually spend 1-2 hours at a facility visiting patients and residents.

If you are with a facility that would like an OHS team to visit, contact the OHS Volunteer Department, email, (503) 285-7722, ext. 204.