So, you want to start bringing therapy animals into your professional setting at your workplace, but you’re not quite sure how to get others on board? You’re not alone.
Many professionals find initial hesitation from administrators, colleagues, and risk managers. Questions about logistics, cost, or safety are common. Yet once the program launches, it often becomes one of the most beloved and impactful initiatives in the organization. What starts as “let’s see how this goes” quickly turns into “how did we ever do this without a therapy dog?”
If you’re ready to make your case with confidence, here are clear, research-based strategies to help you build support, show professionalism, and turn your vision into a reality.
Ground Your Program in Research
Decision-makers feel more comfortable supporting something when they see it’s grounded in research. Summarize key research studies that show the impact of therapy animals in your setting—whether that’s education, healthcare, counseling, or beyond.
What were the main findings? How do they connect with the outcomes your workplace already cares about, like improved well-being, engagement, or reduced stress?
When you can say, “Here’s what the research shows, and here’s why it matters to our work,” you’re demonstrating that your idea isn’t just heartwarming—it’s evidence-based.
Pro tip: AAAIP’s coursework and resources reference dozens of peer-reviewed studies you can cite directly, saving you hours of research time.
Show What Success Looks Like
Sometimes the most persuasive case for a therapy animal program is proof that it works. Real-world examples help your stakeholders picture the benefits.
- If you work in a school system, you might point to the Absecon School District’s therapy dog program, which has been featured for its positive impact on student connection and emotional health.
- In a mental health setting, draw from examples like Dr. Elizabeth Ruegg’s AAI-informed clinical practice.
- And in healthcare, the Mayo Clinic’s therapy and facility dog program has become a model for excellence in hospital-based interventions.
These examples and more show that therapy animal programming isn’t experimental. It’s an achievable, evidence-supported enhancement to professional practice.
Paint a Clear Picture of Your Plan
A well-defined roadmap demonstrates forethought and professionalism. The best way to get buy-in is to make your plan feel real. The more detail you can show, the easier it is for others to visualize what success looks like.
Here’s an example roadmap you might include in your proposal:
- Join AAAIP to access continuing education, professional development events, and community support.
- Earn your Certified Animal-Assisted Intervention Specialist (C-AAIS) credential to verify your knowledge of best practices.
- Complete a Professional Therapy Animal Team Evaluation so that your team can be safely approved for your setting.
- Stay engaged as a lifelong learner through AAAIP’s events, mentorship opportunities, and peer collaboration .
This roadmap shows you’re not improvising; you’re creating a program that is tested and prioritizes safety, ethics, and ongoing growth.
Create a Thoughtful Budget
A strong proposal anticipates questions before they’re asked. Budgets aren’t just about numbers—they’re about showing preparedness.
Depending on your plan, include items like:
- AAAIP membership (individual or organizational)
- Online coursework or continuing education: Start with AAAIP’s free practice test, which will highlight areas for growth and suggest relevant courses.
- C-AAIS Certification exam: AAAIP members receive a substantial discount on the exam, as well as on associated coursework.
- Therapy animal evaluation fees: If you choose to work with a local trainer to conduct the evaluation at your workplace, their rates may vary.
- Animal care or training costs: Include any ongoing expenses related to the animal’s well-being or preparation for the program.
Transparency builds trust. When you itemize everything clearly, it shows stakeholders that you’ve thought through both the short-term investment and the long-term sustainability of the program.
Bringing it All Together
When you pull these ingredients into a single, well-organized proposal, you’ll not only answer key questions in advance. You will showcase that therapy animal programming can be both heartfelt and highly credible.
And if your administrators need that final nudge? Invite a local volunteer therapy animal team for a brief visit or demonstration. Once they experience the calm, joy, and connection that these animals bring, their hearts—and their approval—tend to follow.
Create your free AAAIP Portal account to access proposal templates, research summaries, and certification resources to help you succeed.