What is Intermountain Therapy Animals?
Intermountain Therapy Animals is a non-profit organization bringing animal resources
to human needs. We specialize in providing animal-assisted therapy in the areas of physical,
occupational, speech and psychotherapies, as well as special education.
We are an affiliate of the International Delta Society. Our motto is “Pets Helping People.”
The ITA volunteer program provides carefully screened therapy animals and handlers who work with human service and health care professionals to serve those in need. We work with children and adults who are physically, developmentally, or emotionally disabled, as well as others who can benefit from the unique qualities that interaction with an animal can provide.
Intermountain Therapy Animals volunteers are trained to provide pet-facilitated therapy in hospitals, schools, mental institutions, nursing facilities, detention homes, extended care centers, and other care-giving facilities.
What is our Mission?
Intermountain Therapy Animals exists to enhance quality of life through the human-animal
bond. We strive to do this through:
- Our animal-assisted therapy services
- Our workshops and presentations, educating an ever-wider audience about the joys of having animals participate in the healing process
- Our efforts to cooperate with others in our community who have similar and complementary objectives.
What is Animal-Assisted Therapy?
The use of animals to facilitate positive changes in a broad
spectrum of therapeutic settings is becoming more accepted, appreciated
and valued. Under direction of health services and education
professionals, animal-assisted therapy can promote physical,
emotional, cognitive, and social improvement for people with
special needs.
In animal-assisted therapy (AAT) programs, volunteer teams become formally involved in patient treatment regimens, helping motivate the achievement of a wide variety of goals and objectives. As those who share their lives with companion animals will attest, there are benefits that animals can provide that oftentimes people cannot. Research is now corroborating this conventional wisdom. We have witnessed some miraculous improvements during our animal-assisted therapy visits.
Intermountain Therapy Animals participates in both AAT and animal-assisted activity (AAA) programs, in which volunteers visit informally with hospital patients, nursing home residents and people in other facilities.
What is a Therapy Animal?
A therapy animal possesses the necessary skills
and aptitude to facilitate therapy under the direction of a health
care or human services professional. Therapy animals are owned by volunteers,
not by the people or organizations they serve. Dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea
pigs, horses, and llamas are some of the species that have been registered
as therapy animals.
We're Carefully Trained to Care
Intermountain Therapy Animals handlers receive ongoing training
in:
- Handling pets in various medical environments and care settings
- Working with licensed therapists
- Working with educators
- Dealing with emotionally-charged situations
- Following safety precautions, hospital protocol and emergency procedures
- Basic first aid and medical terminology
- Handling pets in a responsible manner
- Pet health care and grooming
Intermountain Therapy Animals receive training in:
- Socializing with children, teens and adults who are disabled
- Working with frail and elderly adults
- Working with fragile and delicate patients and situations
- Behaving in distracting and unpredictable environments
After training, pet and handler teams are certified to work in specific facilities. Each team is accompanied by a trained observer on preliminary visits before they are certified for a site. Handlers also receive orientation from health care personnel before visiting any medical facility. Visiting teams are always accompanied by a therapist or other authorized health services professional.
Intermountain Therapy Animals retests and reregisters its pet/handler teams every two years. Pets must be current on vaccinations, well-groomed, and well-socialized with other animals and people.
What Qualifies Us to Do This Work?
ITA therapy animals and their handlers are registered as therapy animal teams through a nationwide program that
provides health and behavior guidelines for people/pet teams involved
in animal-assisted activities (AAA) or animal-assisted therapy (AAT).
The program provides insurance to teams that successfully complete its
skills and aptitude tests and volunteer training.
How Do We Receive Our Training?
We are fortunate to have a large number of highly qualified staff members
to provide training to all our volunteers. For example, we have Nine
team evaluators:
- Peggy Chudd
- Susan Daynes
- Marian Evans
- Kathy Klotz (qualified to certify advanced therapy teams)
- Kathy McNulty
- Jaimee O'Brien
- Cindy Starley
- Jeannie Watanabe
- Jose Woodhead
In addition, ITA has six workshop instructors. Here are their names:
- Karen Burns
- Carron Gordon
- Kathy Klotz
- Nancy Rosen
- Connie Sharkey
- Chris Vlachos
Finally, ITA's Executive Director, Kathy Klotz, is one of only a few people in the United States that has been certified by the Delta Society to teach the training course for team evaluators.
Where Do We Serve?
Currently, ITA volunteer teams work in schools, hospitals,
and other institutions serving a variety of populations:
- Children who have been emotionally and physically abused
- Children who have developmental or physical disabilities
- Individuals who have suffered severe physical trauma or brain injury
- Elderly individuals who require institutional care
Demand for the services of ITA's well-trained pet/handler teams is growing almost daily, and we are always seeking potential new volunteer teams—as well as financial support— to increase our ability to provide our services to those who need them.