Welfare Considerations in Animal-Assisted Interventions. The Role of the Practitioner

When we discuss animal-assisted interventions, most of the literature focuses on understanding the benefits or risks to humans. These therapies are rarely seen from the animal's perspective. This paper aims to identify how animal-assisted intervention can develop while considering and respecting the animal as a sentient being. Considering the risks and threats to animals, Antonia Eraud calls on stakeholders and, more especially, practitioners to take appropriate action for a better world for both humans and animals. Because the well-being of one cannot be at the expense of distress to the other, can it?