NASW has received phone calls and e-mails from members with questions regarding the use of animals as a therapeutic tool. There are four categories of animals used in a helping capacity:(1) service animals, (2) emotional support animals (ESAs), (3) comfort dogs, and (4) animal-assisted therapy.Clinical social workers’ roles and responsibilities vary in each category.The purpose of this practice perspective is to define each category and identify the roles of clinical social workers.
A new resource is now available from NASW Press: Human-Animal Interactions: A Social Work Guide.
http://naswpress.org/publications/reference/Human_Animal_Interactions.html