According to The American Humane Association:

What are Animal-Assisted Activities and Animal-Assisted Therapy?

Animal-assisted activities (AAA) provide opportunities for motivational, educational and/or recreational benefits to enhance a person’s quality of life. AAA are delivered by professionals, para-professionals or volunteers who demonstrate knowledge about animals and the human populations with which they interact. As an example of AAA, an individual brings his or her dog to a long-term care facility to visit the residents. Although the staff is involved in the visits, no treatment goals have been set for the visit and, aside from signing in and out, no records are kept.

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THE PAWTASTICS is a not-for-profit volunteer family of happy canines and their humans, comprised of celebrity dogs, studio canines and other exceptionally-trained animals who provide animal-assisted activities (AAA) and animal-assisted therapy (AAT) services to individuals of all ages with social, emotional and cognitive needs in healthcare facilities, social agencies and educational programs in Southern California. (more…)

The Pawtastics is a non-profit volunteer family of happy canines and their humans who provide animal-assisted activities (AAA) and animal-assisted therapy (AAT) services to individuals of all ages with social, emotional, and cognitive needs in the Southern California area.  Comprised of celebrity dogs, studio dogs, and exceptionally trained canines and their humans, the Pawtastics aspire to take therapy dog work to another level, with a focus on youth-related initiatives and animal-assisted crisis response. (more…)