Spotlight on Roles Within the Assistance Animal Team

Assistance animal partnerships are rarely created through the work of a single professional. Instead, successful outcomes depend on collaboration between multiple disciplines, each contributing their own expertise while recognising the limits of their professional scope of practice.

No single person has all the knowledge required to assess disability, animal behaviour, training, health, welfare, legislation and occupational performance. Effective assistance animal practice therefore relies on respectful interdisciplinary collaboration, shared decision-making and clear communication.

Assistance Animals Are a Team Effort

Many people assume the trainer is solely responsible for creating an assistance animal. In reality, successful partnerships require input from a range of professionals before, during and after placement.

Depending on the individual circumstances, the team may include:

• the handler
• family members or carers
• occupational therapist
• assistance animal trainer
• veterinarian
• veterinary specialists
• animal behaviourist
• groomer
• physiotherapist or rehabilitation practitioner
• medical specialists
• psychologists or other allied health professionals
• educators or employers

Each person contributes different knowledge that supports both the handler and the animal throughout the partnership.

The Occupational Therapist

Occupational therapists focus on the person’s occupational performance rather than the animal itself.

This includes identifying:

• functional goals
• participation barriers
• meaningful occupations
• environmental demands
• risks
• assistive technology needs
• outcome measures
• long-term support requirements

Occupational therapists should not determine whether an animal is behaviourally suitable for assistance work unless they also possess appropriate animal qualifications. Instead, they contribute expertise regarding the person’s needs and collaborate with appropriately qualified animal professionals.

The Assistance Animal Trainer

The trainer evaluates whether an individual animal possesses the behavioural characteristics, motivation, resilience and trainability required for assistance work.

Their role typically includes:

• behavioural assessment
• training task behaviours
• public access preparation
• matching animals with handlers
• ongoing support
• welfare monitoring

Ethical trainers recognise that not every animal will be suitable for assistance work and recommend career changes when appropriate.

The Veterinarian

Veterinarians play a critical role in protecting animal health and welfare throughout the partnership.

This includes:

• health screening
• preventative healthcare
• diagnosing illness or injury
• pain management
• advising on fitness to work
• supporting retirement decisions

An animal experiencing pain or illness may demonstrate behavioural changes that are not training problems but medical issues requiring veterinary assessment.

The Handler

The handler is the central member of the interdisciplinary team.

No professional spends more time with the assistance animal than the person living and working with it every day.

Handlers provide valuable information about:

• daily functioning
• behavioural changes
• task performance
• health concerns
• environmental challenges
• occupational outcomes

Successful assistance animal partnerships are built through active collaboration with the handler rather than decisions being made on their behalf.

Working Within Professional Scope

One hallmark of professional practice is recognising when another discipline has greater expertise.

For example:

• an occupational therapist should not diagnose canine orthopaedic disease, but rather may notice hallmarks and provide a referral letter for a veterinary review
• a veterinarian should not prescribe occupational therapy interventions, but rather recognise the need and provide a referral letter to a suitable OT

Professionals should understand their own scope of practice while recognising when referral or consultation is required.

Interdisciplinary collaboration does not blur professional boundaries—it strengthens them by ensuring each professional contributes their area of expertise.

Communication Improves Outcomes

Successful interdisciplinary teams communicate openly, respectfully and consistently.

This includes:

• sharing relevant information
• documenting decisions
• discussing concerns early
• involving the handler in decision-making
• maintaining clear professional boundaries
• focusing on shared goals

Poor communication may result in conflicting advice, delayed interventions or unnecessary stress for both the handler and the animal.

Practice Example

An occupational therapist and an assistance animal trainer were working together to determine whether a prospective assistance dog was suitable for a client. Following their respective assessments, they reached different conclusions. The trainer believed the dog possessed the temperament and behavioural skills required for assistance work, while the occupational therapist questioned whether the dog’s working style and ability to cope with the client’s complex functional needs would support a successful long-term partnership. Unable to reach a shared decision, they jointly approached WAFA for an independent review. WAFA conducted a comprehensive assessment, considered the perspectives of both professionals, reviewed the dog’s behavioural history and sought additional veterinary input to exclude any underlying health concerns. Following discussion, the team reached a consensus that, although the dog was capable of assistance work, it was not the most appropriate match for that particular client. The dog was later successfully partnered with another handler whose needs better aligned with its strengths, while the original client was matched with a different dog. This example demonstrates that interdisciplinary practice does not require professionals to always agree initially. Instead, it relies on respectful communication, independent expertise and shared decision-making to achieve the most appropriate outcome for both the person and the animal.

Occupational Therapy Considerations

Occupational therapists should recognise that assistance animal practice is inherently interdisciplinary. While OTs contribute expertise in occupational performance, participation and assistive technology, successful outcomes depend upon collaboration with appropriately qualified animal professionals, veterinarians and other health practitioners.

Understanding the complementary roles of each discipline promotes evidence-informed, ethical and welfare-focused practice while ensuring that both the handler and the assistance animal receive comprehensive, coordinated support. Ultimately, the strongest assistance animal partnerships are created not by one expert working alone, but by an interdisciplinary team working together towards a shared goal.