When a doctor prescribes treatment involving animals, it's called animal-assisted therapy (AAT).
You'd never expect to see a horse in your hospital room, unless of course the stuff they are putting in your IV causes hallucinations. But horses are among the many animals involved in programs to assist people in a variety of settings. Animal-assisted therapy, formerly known as pet therapy, provides people in need with visits from friendly, calm and gentle animals. Some registries, such as The Delta Society, welcome and certify almost any species of animal. Others, such as Therapy Dog International, TDI, only certify dogs.
Pet Care Trust
When the visit is less formal and does not involve doctor's orders, it's called animal-assisted activity (AAA).
The Pet Care Trust is based in Washington D.C. and offers grants for a wide variety of programs and services relating to the animal-human bond. Their focus is in educating the public on how animals enhance the lives of people through interactions in classrooms, hospital settings and institutions. They promote the understanding of animals and their abilities to assist humans by incorporating them as classrooms pets, using them in Alzhemier's care facilities and hospitals, working them with at-risk kids and a host of other purposes. They also award grants to veterinary students.
Planet Dog Foundation
The Planet Dog Foundation provides funding for programs all over the country. Their main focus is on programs developed to provide the training, support and placement of dogs with people in need. The volunteers in the programs must be enrolled in one of the certifying agencies such as The Delta Society or TDI. Planet Dog provides funding for service dog programs, therapy dog teams and assistance dog projects. They also award grants to people involved in training dogs for military action, firefighting, police K-9 officers and search and rescue dogs. Their grants do not exceed $7,500.
The Equus Foundation
Horses are sensitive and highly attuned to their environment. Many of them make excellent AAT and AAA partners.
The Equus Foundation awards grants to those who are working to advance the incorporation of horses into therapy and activity programs designed to assist people in need. The foundation looks for organizations that develop therapeutic riding programs as well as equine-assisted activities. They also fund necessary medical treatment for horses involved in such programs. Their priorities are programs that promote the uses of horses in therapy programs that benefit the public and the welfare of horses in general, and they assist with advances in equine sports. Grants are generally $5,000 or less.
Animal Assistance Foundation
The Animal Assistance Foundation is based in Denver, CO and provides two types of grants. Their Model State Grant is open to any governmental animal agency or a private 501 C(3) non-profit corporation. The grant funds projects that seek to improve animal-assisted therapy and activity programs in Colorado. Their second grant, called a Service Grant, provides matching funds to someone who will train and certify shelter dogs being considered for adoption as therapy dogs.
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