IAHAIO international guidelines on care, training and welfare requirements for farm animals involved in animal-assisted interventions

Development of the guidelines

These guidelines provide best practice guidance for meeting the care, training and welfare requirements of farm animals involved in delivering animal-assisted interventions (AAI). They apply to 9 different farm animal species often involved in AAI, including:

Donkeys
Sheep
Goats
Cattle (cows and heifers)
New World Camelids (llamas and alpacas)
Camels
Pigs (swine)
Chickens
Rabbits

The guidelines were developed by an international task force of IAHAIO members and individual experts and relevant organizations working between 2018 and 2021. They are based on a review of evidence of current best practices and research.

Use of the guidelines

The recommendation is that these guidelines are adopted and implemented in practice by everyone that incorporates farm animals in programmes that benefit people. It is acknowledged that knowledge can change over time as research and practice expands and it is intended that this document be reviewed every two years and adjusted, if required. National guidelines or profession-specific competencies for farm animals as part of human services that exist in individual countries must be followed in care, welfare, training and handling procedures.

Download the guidelines here.