Jose M. Peralta is a native of Spain and a Professor of Animal Welfare at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Western University of Health Sciences. He is a Diplomate of the American and the European Colleges of Animal Welfare and has received awards from the American Veterinary Medical Association and the World Veterinary Association for his contributions to the education and advancement in the scientific field of animal welfare. He is interested in all aspects of animal welfare and has worked on projects in different species, having developed over the last several years a particular interest in the well-being of animals used in animal-assisted therapy and interventions.Dr. Aubrey Fine is a native of Montreal, Canada and is a Professor Emeritus at California State Polytechnic University and a licensed psychologist. Dr. Fine was presented the Wang Award given to a distinguished professor within the California State University system and has been recognized by numerous organizations for his service and dedication to children, animals and the community. He received the William McCulloch Award for Excellence in HAI Education and Practice from the International Association of Human Animal Interaction Organizations, in Paris, France. Additionally, he was awarded the Educator of the Year from the Learning Disability Association of California. Dr. Fine’s primary research interests relate to the psycho-social impact of human animal interactions and animal assisted interventions, social skills training and children with ADHD, and resilience in children.

• Chapter 1: The animals´ perspective and its impact on welfare during animal-assisted interventions.- Chapter 2: Conceptualizing the Human-animal Bond and Animal-assisted Interventions.- Chapter 3: Ethics of Animal Assisted Interventions.- Chapter 4: Behavior and Training for Optimal Welfare in Therapy Settings.- Chapter 5: Stress in therapy animals.- Chapter 6: Strategies to Assessing and Enhancing Animal Welfare in Animal-Assisted Interventions.- Chapter 7: Wellness and Medical Needs of Therapy Animals.- Chapter 8: Working with companion animals, and especially dogs, in therapeutic and other AAI settings.- Chapter 9: Welfare Considerations for Horses in Therapy and Education Services.- Chapter 10: A Trajectory Approach to Supporting Therapy Animal Welfare in Retirement and Beyond.- Chapter 11: The welfarist and the psychologist: Finding common ground in our interactions with therapy animals.

Jose M. Peralta is a native of Spain and a Professor of Animal Welfare at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Western University of Health Sciences. He is a Diplomate of the American and the European Colleges of Animal Welfare and has received awards from the American Veterinary Medical Association and the World Veterinary Association for his contributions to the education and advancement in the scientific field of animal welfare. He is interested in all aspects of animal welfare and has worked on projects in different species, having developed over the last several years a particular interest in the well-being of animals used in animal-assisted therapy and interventions.Dr. Aubrey Fine is a native of Montreal, Canada and is a Professor Emeritus at California State Polytechnic University and a licensed psychologist. Dr. Fine was presented the Wang Award given to a distinguished professor within the California State University system and has been recognized by numerous organizations for his service and dedication to children, animals and the community. He received the William McCulloch Award for Excellence in HAI Education and Practice from the International Association of Human Animal Interaction Organizations, in Paris, France. Additionally, he was awarded the Educator of the Year from the Learning Disability Association of California. Dr. Fine’s primary research interests relate to the psycho-social impact of human animal interactions and animal assisted interventions, social skills training and children with ADHD, and resilience in children.

• Chapter 1: The animals´ perspective and its impact on welfare during animal-assisted interventions.- Chapter 2: Conceptualizing the Human-animal Bond and Animal-assisted Interventions.- Chapter 3: Ethics of Animal Assisted Interventions.- Chapter 4: Behavior and Training for Optimal Welfare in Therapy Settings.- Chapter 5: Stress in therapy animals.- Chapter 6: Strategies to Assessing and Enhancing Animal Welfare in Animal-Assisted Interventions.- Chapter 7: Wellness and Medical Needs of Therapy Animals.- Chapter 8: Working with companion animals, and especially dogs, in therapeutic and other AAI settings.- Chapter 9: Welfare Considerations for Horses in Therapy and Education Services.- Chapter 10: A Trajectory Approach to Supporting Therapy Animal Welfare in Retirement and Beyond.- Chapter 11: The welfarist and the psychologist: Finding common ground in our interactions with therapy animals.

Jose M. Peralta is a native of Spain and a Professor of Animal Welfare at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Western University of Health Sciences. He is a Diplomate of the American and the European Colleges of Animal Welfare and has received awards from the American Veterinary Medical Association and the World Veterinary Association for his contributions to the education and advancement in the scientific field of animal welfare. He is interested in all aspects of animal welfare and has worked on projects in different species, having developed over the last several years a particular interest in the well-being of animals used in animal-assisted therapy and interventions.Dr. Aubrey Fine is a native of Montreal, Canada and is a Professor Emeritus at California State Polytechnic University and a licensed psychologist. Dr. Fine was presented the Wang Award given to a distinguished professor within the California State University system and has been recognized by numerous organizations for his service and dedication to children, animals and the community. He received the William McCulloch Award for Excellence in HAI Education and Practice from the International Association of Human Animal Interaction Organizations, in Paris, France. Additionally, he was awarded the Educator of the Year from the Learning Disability Association of California. Dr. Fine’s primary research interests relate to the psycho-social impact of human animal interactions and animal assisted interventions, social skills training and children with ADHD, and resilience in children.

• Chapter 1: The animals´ perspective and its impact on welfare during animal-assisted interventions.- Chapter 2: Conceptualizing the Human-animal Bond and Animal-assisted Interventions.- Chapter 3: Ethics of Animal Assisted Interventions.- Chapter 4: Behavior and Training for Optimal Welfare in Therapy Settings.- Chapter 5: Stress in therapy animals.- Chapter 6: Strategies to Assessing and Enhancing Animal Welfare in Animal-Assisted Interventions.- Chapter 7: Wellness and Medical Needs of Therapy Animals.- Chapter 8: Working with companion animals, and especially dogs, in therapeutic and other AAI settings.- Chapter 9: Welfare Considerations for Horses in Therapy and Education Services.- Chapter 10: A Trajectory Approach to Supporting Therapy Animal Welfare in Retirement and Beyond.- Chapter 11: The welfarist and the psychologist: Finding common ground in our interactions with therapy animals.