Topic 2.1 – Introduction to Assistance Animal Prospect Assessment
The selection of an assistance animal is one of the most important decisions made throughout the assistance animal partnership. While Module 1 explored the principles underpinning ethical assistance animal selection, this module focuses on how prospective assistance animals are systematically assessed to determine whether they are suitable for assistance work.
Prospect assessment is a comprehensive, evidence-informed process that evaluates an individual animal’s physical health, temperament, behaviour, motivation, resilience and functional suitability for its intended role. Rather than relying on intuition or a single behavioural test, assessment combines information gathered over time from multiple sources and environments. This holistic approach enables the interdisciplinary team to identify each animal’s strengths, limitations and potential while ensuring that welfare remains the primary consideration throughout the decision-making process.
No assessment can predict future performance with complete certainty. Behaviour changes with development, experience, health, training and environmental influences. Likewise, medical conditions may emerge or progress over time. Consequently, prospect assessment should be viewed as an ongoing process of collecting, interpreting and reviewing information, rather than a single pass-or-fail event. Animals should be reassessed throughout their development and training to ensure they continue to meet the physical, behavioural and welfare requirements of assistance work.
Occupational therapists play an important role within the interdisciplinary assessment process. While animal professionals evaluate health, behaviour and training potential, occupational therapists contribute expertise regarding occupational performance, functional goals, environmental demands and client needs. Together, the interdisciplinary team determines whether the characteristics of an individual animal are appropriately matched to the occupations the client wishes to perform safely, effectively and sustainably.
Importantly, successful prospect assessment does not always result in an animal entering an assistance animal program. Identifying that an animal is better suited to another working role or to life as a companion animal is equally valuable. Ethical assessment prioritises the long-term wellbeing of both the client and the animal, recognising that not every capable, friendly or intelligent animal is suited to the unique demands of assistance work.
Throughout this module, you will explore the principles, methods and practical considerations involved in assessing assistance animal prospects. Topics include sourcing suitable prospects, developmental and behavioural assessment, temperament evaluation, environmental assessment, task-specific suitability, decision-making and documentation. Together, these components form a structured assessment framework that supports consistent, evidence-informed and welfare-focused selection decisions.
Occupational Therapy Considerations
Occupational therapists should understand that assistance animal prospect assessment extends beyond evaluating the animal alone. Clinical reasoning requires consideration of the interaction between the client, the animal, the occupations to be performed and the environments in which the partnership will function. By contributing expertise in occupational analysis and person–environment–occupation fit, occupational therapists help ensure that selection decisions support meaningful participation while safeguarding the health and welfare of both members of the partnership.