Greetings to you! Thank you for visiting our website, where you will find a description of our new program Pet Assisted Love and Support for Seniors. At this time, our program is only open to residents in the state of Missouri.

The Research Center for Human Animal Interaction (ReCHAI) operates as a dynamic collaboration between the University of Missouri-Columbia Sinclair School of Nursing and College of Veterinary Medicine with a mission of educating and conducting programs and studies about the benefits of human-animal interaction. It is so rewarding to see what happens when we pair people with animals to the good of both.

ReCHAI is proud to announce an exciting new online training course and web environment in Animal Assisted Activity (AAA or making pet visits to people). This program is made possible through the generous support of the Lil’ red Foundation. Its founders Dr Joe & Mrs. Judy Roetheli know first hand how much dog visits can mean to older adults living in nursing homes. Dr. Roethelis’ father, who was confined to a nursing home for several years greatly benefitted from visits of Max, the Roetheli’s Greater Swiss Mountain dog. This inspired them to want to help others in a like manner.

Our goal in creating the PALS for Seniors online environment is to make becoming qualified to do AAA a very accessible and convenient process! AAA involves much more than just a human and animal team visiting a person. It means improving quality of life, often bringing healing to individuals. The many benefits are experienced not only by the person being visited but also by the volunteers and their animals .

• For the dog owner, our online class will provide you with specialized background and training to prepare you to do AAA. Enrolling in the class will help you focus your interests into specific areas, help you identify ways you can began AAA, plus provide you with a certificate to give your work credibility. To learn more and enroll in the class click the Prospective Students tab for more information.
• Dog Behavior Testers are trained as ReCHAI PALS for Seniors Behavior Testers. As a tester you will evaluate the owner and dog team in your home area. If you are interested in becoming a Dog Behavior Tester, choose the Registered Dog Testers tab and read more.
• For a Nursing Home interested in having our trained teams do AAA visits with your residents you may learn more by going to that tab.

We are grateful to our generous sponsors: The Lil’ Red Foundation for making the program possible and Pets Best Pet Insurance and the Skeeter Foundation for assistance with liability insurance.

We welcome you to a family of people dedicated to helping others through Animal Assisted Activity!

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the staff of the Research Center for Human Animal Interaction (ReCHAI).

Dr. Rebecca A. Johnson
Director, Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction
University of Missouri-Columbia
College of Veterinary Medicine