AAAIP Events: Connect, Learn, and Grow in AAI
Join professionals like you at AAAIP events, led by AAI experts.
Upcoming AAAIP Events
Explore monthly events designed for professionals bringing therapy animals into real-world settings. AAAIP events are free to Members. Select events have an associated fee listed for Non-members. Non-members can register for events and pay the fee, if applicable, with a free AAAIP Portal Login.
Preparing Your Workspace for AAI
When bringing a therapy animal into your workspace, you need to have carefully planned and prepared the environment to ensure both the therapy animal and the people it serves thrive. How is your workspace set up to support the animal? Do you have designated retreat spaces? What signage do you need on your doors? Have you planned for designated areas where the animal can eliminate, and are you equipped with the right cleaning supplies and first aid kits? Thoughtful preparation for these factors is essential to meet field standards and create a safe, supportive environment.
Join us for a session with Kerri Golding Oransky, LCSW Child, Adolescent and Adult Therapist, as we discuss these important practical considerations for setting up your workspace for a successful animal-assisted intervention.
AAAIP members: No cost | Non-members: $19
AAI Specialist Certification Q&A
Learn how to earn the only certification for professionals working with therapy animals. Join us for answers, preparation tips, and next steps to boost your credibility and provide safe, effective interventions with the support of animals.
There is no cost to attend this event.
Finding the Right Fit: Matching Therapy Animals with Environment
How do you know if a therapy animal is in the right environment—and what happens when they aren’t?
Join Dr. Lindsey Wallace, a Critical Care Physician Assistant and experienced therapy animal team evaluator, for a session on matching therapy animals with the settings where they can truly thrive. Dr. Wallace is leading a retrospective study of years of therapy animal visits in an inpatient behavioral health unit. Drawing from this work and her field expertise, she’ll share practical insights on assessing environments, honoring an animal’s preferences, and making placement decisions that protect both human and animal well-being.
You’ll walk away with strategies to support ethical, effective interventions—and new ideas for measuring program success across a variety of fields and disciplines.
AAAIP members: No cost | Non-members: $19
So You Want to Take Your Dog to Work?
Ever wondered if your dog could be part of your workday? In just 30 minutes, discover how animals can support people in professional settings, and what it takes to make it safe, ethical, and rewarding. You’ll walk away with clear, practical ways to take your first step towards animal-assisted interventions.
There is no cost to attend this event.
C-AAIS Candidate Meetup
Studying for your C-AAIS exam? Connect with fellow candidates who share a passion for this work! During this Zoom session, we’ll use an interactive tool to review key competencies related to the ethical inclusion of therapy animals, work through some practice questions, and support each other along the way.
There is no cost to attend this event.
Navigating Therapy Animal Transitions: Retirement and Loss
Anyone who has experienced the retirement or loss of a therapy animal knows how challenging this aspect of the work can be. These transitions are often deeply emotional, so we avoid thinking about them until we have no choice. But these moments profoundly affect us, our animals, and the people we serve, so it’s essential to approach them with intention.
Join us for a heartfelt conversation with Superintendent Dr. Dan Dooley and Therapy Animal Program Coordinator Cathy Bennett, who will share their personal experiences at this emotional intersection and the meaningful ways to navigate these times with honor and empowerment.
Bring your own stories and questions to this conversation, designed to help you prepare for and move through therapy animal transitions, whether temporary or permanent.
AAAIP members: No cost | Non-members: $19
Market with Meaning — Grow the Reach of Therapy Animal Programs
Fresh off her TEDx talk on the power of therapy animals, AAAIP member Pamela Pearson is bringing her storytelling skills and strategic marketing expertise to the AAAIP community. With an impressive background as a corporate executive—including roles as CEO and VP of Marketing for mission-driven organizations—Pamela blends her professional experience with a deep passion for animal-assisted interventions.
In this session, she’ll share practical tips and insights on how to effectively market and grow therapy animal programs. Whether you’re working in hospitals, universities, or recovery centers, Pamela will help you hone your message, amplify your impact, and advocate for the funding and visibility these programs deserve.
AAAIP members: No cost | Non-members: $19
AAAIP Therapy Animal Impact: 2025
As we wrap up the year, we’re taking time to reflect on the heart of our work: the life-changing impact of therapy animals. Join us for an inspiring evening as AAAIP members Theresa Richardson, Elizabeth Worth, and Chrissy Richardson share powerful stories from their 2025 experiences in the field. After each testimony, AAAIP staff will offer practical tools and strategies for capturing these moments through meaningful data collection—empowering you to translate compelling stories into measurable outcomes that drive support and sustain your programs into the new year.
AAAIP members: No cost | Non-members: $19
Past AAAIP Events
Missed an event? You can still access the content to support your work with therapy animals whenever it works for you. AAAIP members get free access to over 20 hours of previously recorded events as well as discounted access to previous conference sessions. Non-members can purchase recordings individually.