Hines sees that changing, however. Twenty years ago, service animals trained to assist persons with disabilities were not allowed in many public places, but Delta and other like-minded organizations changed that. With the passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act, which, among its many requirements, makes it illegal to discriminate against persons requiring assistance from service animals, the government has essentially set a precedent for integration. Working with other groups, Delta has opened human hospital doors to therapy animals. The society's work has received consistent support from national veterinary associations, yet Hines believes practitioners could do more.
Veterinarians bring credibility to discussions concerning animals in health care settings.
When you talk about animals in health care situations with immunocompromised patients, the veterinarian's voice has not really been heard. Hines is disappointed that Delta, an organization that has its roots in veterinary medicine, has so few members who are veterinarians. Practitioners who support the organization, she said, not only help their communities but also their businesses. The Guidelines for Humane Dog Training are an attempt to professionalize an industry in which anyone can claim to be an expert. In March 1998 the AHA convened a Task Force on Humane Dog Training that included 25 trainers, veterinarians, applied animal behaviorists, animal welfare experts, and veterinary behaviorists, to create guidelines for humane dog training.