Animals for Good

I’ve spent the last couple of weeks getting a sense of what’s out there in the field of ‘animals helping humans’ and feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface. I’m truly humbled by what’s out there.

An initial Twitter search led me on a path from organisations and individuals energetically discussing everything from hero pets to medical detection dogs to animal assisted therapy. Their websites and followed blogs opened up an even bigger world of global charities and projects promoting animals’ role in helping and healing people. 

One of the goals of AFG is to provide a one-stop resource for the many situations in which animals are improving lives - to bring together all of this amazing work and increase awareness, donations, volunteering, connections, and research. Ultimately it’s about helping those who would benefit from being connected with an animal to have the opportunity. 

The first step is an attempt to get a handle on the animals for good situations, so here’s my attempt at a summary. Feel free to add more in comments!

Overall Themes

• Animal Assisted Activity (AAA)
• Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT)
• Working Animals
• Assistance Animals
• Service Animals
• Companion Animals
• Hero Pets/Animals

Areas of Animal Support

• Physical conditions: Visually impaired, hearing impaired, mobility difficulties, diabetes, Addison’s disease, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, seizures, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injuries, etc.
• Psychological conditions: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), agoraphobia, panic attacks, manic depression, etc.
• Therapy settings: Schools, universities, colleges, libraries, farms, sanctuaries, shelters, hospitals, clinics, health facilities, nursing homes, residential homes, hospices, etc. 
• Military/Police dogs
• Search and Rescue dogs
• Companion dogs for ex-Military personnel
• Companion dogs for the homeless
• Animals: Dogs, cats, horses (hippo/equine therapy), birds, rabbits and other small animals.

I’ll now group together the charities/projects/individuals linked to the areas above to build a picture of animals for good expertise.

This blog represents the start of more than just a personal change of career, but hopefully a movement. Towards us all knowing more about the many ways in which animals help people, in a working, therapy and companionship context.

The area is vast, with news stories every day about animals doing amazing things to improve our lives, and yet there doesn’t seem to be any central platform for discussion and collaboration. I’m no expert in any one area, but instead can use my marketing experience to foster useful links within the community.

So, the goals of Animals for Good (AFG) are to:

• Fundraise - For related charities, research, and individuals in need.
• Connect - Those interested and involved in human-animal activities worldwide.
• Promote - Public awareness of what animals can do for people and how we can be part of the picture.
• Campaign - For more and better research into new and established therapies, and against harmful legislation.