Defining Terms Used for Animals Working in Support Roles for People with Support Needs

This is the final version. Available on open access from MDPI via the DOI in this recordData Availability Statement: De-identified qualitative data can be made available by contacting the lead author.The nomenclature used to describe animals working in roles supporting people can be confusing. The same term may be used to describe different roles, or two terms may mean the same thing. This confusion is evident among researchers, practitioners, and end users. Because certain animal roles are provided with legal protections and/or government-funding support in some jurisdictions, it is necessary to clearly define the existing terms to avoid confusion. The aim of this paper is to provide operationalized definitions for nine terms, which would be useful in many world regions: "assistance animal", "companion animal", "educational/school support animal", "emotional support animal", "facility animal", "service animal", "skilled companion animal", "therapy animal", and "visiting/visitation animal". At the International Society for Anthrozoology (ISAZ) conferences in 2018 and 2020, over 100 delegates participated in workshops to define these terms, many of whom co-authored this paper. Through an iterative process, we have defined the nine terms and explained how they differ from each other. We recommend phasing out two terms (i.e., "skilled companion animal" and "service animal") due to overlap with other terms that could potentially exacerbate confusion. The implications for several regions of the world are discussed

Acute Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis and Sertoli Cell Tumour in an Eleven-Year-Old Dachshund Cross-Bred Dog

An eleven-year-old Dachshund cross-bred dog was presented to the Small Animal Clinic of Ahmadu Bello University Veterinary  Teaching Hospital, Zaria, with complaints of reduced appetite noticed 2 days earlier, and an enlarged testis was noticed three months prior to presentation. Clinical diagnosis was based on history of reduced appetite and enlarged testis; physical findings such as pyrexia, tick infestation, congested ocular mucous membranes, generalized enlarged superficial lymph nodes, enlargement of the mammary glands, alopecia, atrophy of the right testis and discoloration of the scrotum with large, firm palpable mass; complete blood count revealed slight anaemia (PCV 34 %, neutrophilia (12.88 x 109/L) and presence of band cells (0.32 x 109/L); buffy coat smear showed the presence of intracytoplasmic morulae in just one monocyte in the peripheral blood smear; Ehrlichia canis antibodies was detected in serum using Ehrlichia test kit (immunochromatography); serum oestradiol-17β (42.05 pg/mL) and anti- Müllerian hormone (AMH; 25.50 μg/mL) were employed as serum tumour markers; transverse and longitudinal scrotal sonographs revealed diffuse non-homogenous tissues with increase in the echogenicity of the testicles; radiographic findings of thoraco-abdomino-pelvic regions revealed normal organ opacity indicating absence of metastases. Tissue samples were taken from the tumor following surgical excision and submitted for histopathology. The findings were large cytoplasmic vacuoles with slightly irregular nucleoli. It was confirmed to be sertoli cell tumor. The conditions were managed medically, and by surgical excision of the tumour and scrotal ablation. Outcome was successful, and patient started feeding 24 hours after the surgery. Key words: Castration; Buffy coat smear; Tumour markers; Testicular tumour; Scrotal ablatio

Defining terms used for animals working in support roles for people with support needs

The nomenclature used to describe animals working in roles supporting people can be confusing. The same term may be used to describe different roles, or two terms may mean the same thing. This confusion is evident among researchers, practitioners, and end users. Because certain animal roles are provided with legal protections and/or government-funding support in some jurisdictions, it is necessary to clearly define the existing terms to avoid confusion. The aim of this paper is to provide operationalized definitions for nine terms, which would be useful in many world regions: “assistance animal”, “companion animal”, “educational/school support animal”, “emotional support animal”, “facility animal”, “service animal”, “skilled companion animal”, “therapy animal”, and “visiting/visitation animal”. At the International Society for Anthrozoology (ISAZ) conferences in 2018 and 2020, over 100 delegates participated in workshops to define these terms, many of whom co-authored this paper. Through an iterative process, we have defined the nine terms and explained how they differ from each other. We recommend phasing out two terms (i.e., “skilled companion animal” and “service animal”) due to overlap with other terms that could potentially exacerbate confusion. The implications for several regions of the world are discussed