Delta Society is the leading international resource for the human-animal bond. Delta Society has been the force to validate the important role of animals for people's health and well-being by promoting the results of research to the media and health and human services organizations.
Delta Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Delta Society® Mission
- Improving human health through service and therapy animals.
Delta Society Goals
- Expand awareness of the positive effect animals can have on human health and development.
- Remove barriers that prevent involvement of animals in everyday life.
- Expand the therapeutic and service role of animals in human health, service, and education.
The Delta Foundation was established in 1977 in Portland, Oregon, under the leadership of Michael McCulloch, MD. Delta's first president was Leo K. Bustad, DVM, PhD, dean of a veterinary college and a pioneer in human-animal bond theory and application. Delta's founders wanted to understand the quality of the relationship between pet owners, pets, and care givers, both human and veterinary, (hence the "delta" name based on this triangle). At that time, pets were widely considered luxury or throwaway items, not of central importance to individual health and well-being. Delta's early years focused on funding the first credible research on why animals are important to the general population and specifically how they affect health and well being. Early Delta members were primarily from the veterinary and human health professions and from university faculties.
Once the importance of animals in everyday lives was established from this research, Delta began to look at how animals can change the lives of people who are ill and disabled. In the late 1980s, Delta began creating educational materials to apply the scientific information in everyday life. Membership expanded to pet owners and a broader general public.
In the 1990's, Delta built on its scientific and educational base to provide direct services at the local level. This includes providing the first comprehensive training in animal-assisted activities and therapy to volunteers and health care professionals. A significant advance was the development of the Standards of Practice in Animal-Assisted Activities and Animal-Assisted Therapy, which provides guidance in the administrative structure of AAA/T programs, including animal selection, personnel training, treatment plan development, documentation and more. Use of the Standards of Practice in Animal-Assisted Activities and Animal-Assisted Therapy provides a sound base on which to build quality AAA/T programs.
One of Delta's strengths continues to be the development of standards-based training materials. We identify subject matter experts and work with them to create, rigorously pilot and revise, and then implement training. Using this process, we are creating a comprehensive service dog trainer curriculum. In 2001, we published Professional Standards for Dog Trainers: Effective, Humane Principles, that will provide guidelines for all dog training developed by Delta Society.
2000-2001
- Delta Task Force of top researchers determined agenda for symposium on physiological and psychological effects of pets on people to be held February 12, 2002, in Las Vegas.
- Responded to Centers for Disease Control guidelines on AAT in facilities (CDC referenced Delta guidelines).
- Established partnership with ASPCA, including joint Pet Partners Coordinator position in New York City.
- Completed expanded Team Evaluator training and videotape for Pet Partners Program.
- Purchased Federal Way, WA site for future Training Center and Headquarters.
- Published Professional Standards for Dog Trainers: Effective, Humane Principles.
- Piloted first Foundation classes for Service Dog Education System.
1999
- Authored chapters about service and therapy animals in reference text Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy.
- Attended reception at the White House as a guest of Mrs. Hillary Clinton to honor the assistance Delta Society gave in the writing of and to celebrate the publication of Mrs. Clinton's book, Dear Socks, Dear Buddy.
- Provided lecture series about service animal prescription to healthcare providers in Japan, and wrote assessment report for public policy needs for Dept. of Health and Social Welfare.
- Following the change in New York State law, provided turn-key assessment and training program to three New York hospitals regarding implementing standards-based AAA/T programs.
- Completed Animals Helping People: A Prescription for Good Health, a video designed to assist volunteers and professionals obtain permission from administrators to provide an AAA/T program.
- Negotiated the use of Service Dogs Welcome! in:
- all New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission approved cab drivers, and place the Service Dogs Welcome! stickers in each of their cabs (more than 12,200 cabs).
- Began work with Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council to develop third-party reimbursement of service animal expenses for people with disabilities who receive Delaware state-controlled assistance.
1998
- Funded the development of humane standards of practice for dog training in collaboration with American Humane Association.
- Helped Montana Medicaid to develop its third-party reimbursement system for service dogs through which it paid for seven service dogs in 1998.
- Selected by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control & Epidemiology (APIC) to author text chapters and State of the Art Reports (SOARs) about service and therapy animals in healthcare facilities, which will become national guidelines for healthcare providers.
- Helped revise Washington State law to comply with ADA regarding access of service animals in employment, government facilities, public accommodations and housing.
- Provided week-long state-of-the-art training to healthcare professionals in Italy regarding animal-assisted activities and therapy.
- Wrote comprehensive start-up guidelines for facilities wishing to implement AAA/T programs.
1997
- Established Delta Society website.
- Developed Visiting Scholar Program.
- Began consulting with Montana Medicaid to initiate first third-party reimbursement for service dogs.
- Consulted with Japan to provide lecture series about service and therapy animals to healthcare providers and public officials in 8 geopolitical regions.
- Provided service dog training to national transportation agencies.
- Authored chapters about service and therapy animals in reference text Companion Animals in Human Health .
- Consulted with New York State Department of Public Health to develop waiver system to allow companion animals in hospitals.
- Began development of the Service Dog Education System (SDES), a formal, comprehensive curriculum for people who want to lean how to train service dogs for people with disabilities.
- Helped revise state laws regarding service animals in Texas, Maryland, and Montana to comply with ADA.
1996
- Introduced Service Dogs Welcome!™ education system.
- Introduced first Service Dog Access Specialist™ credentialing course.
- Began ongoing work regarding service animal issues with transportation industry, especially Amtrak, Greyhound, Project ACTION.
- Introduced Visiting Animal Programs For Hospitals, training for healthcare administrators about AAA/T.
- Introduced Site Assessment Surveyor certification course.
1995
- Published "Learning in Dogs," the first document that combines canine learning theory with practical training application; first step in writing national service dog curriculum.
1994
- Honored Pet Partners team #1,000 in June in New York City.
- Published The Caring Communique newsletter.
1993
- Opened East Coast office in New York City.
- Renamed Hearing Dog Resource Center to Service Dog Center to reflect broader scope of services and terminology in Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Conducted first national training and certification of animal evaluators.
1992
- Published Standards of Practice in Animal-Assisted Activities and Animal-Assisted Therapy.
- Selected as first headquarters of the International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations, and became founding member.
- Conducted first national series of workshops to train animal-assisted activity/therapy volunteers.
- Conducted first national series of workshop to train health care providers in animal-assisted therapy.
1991
- Published Pet Partners Newsletter, the first continuing education newsletter for volunteers in animal-assisted activities/therapy.
- Received Points of Light Award from Washington (State) Society of Association Executives .
1990
- Established Pet Partners Program®.
- Published first Alert, a quarterly newsletter as education and advocacy piece for hearing/service dogs.
- Established first comprehensive screening criteria for pets in visiting programs.
- Published first home study course for volunteers interested in visiting with their pets.
- Published Compassion: Our Last Great Hope by Leo Bustad, DVM, PhD.
- Published the Service Dog Directory (now the Service Animal Resource Directory), the first and still the most comprehensive reference about service animal issues and suppliers.
1989
- Opened first national Hearing Dog Resource Center, operated jointly with American Humane Association.
- Began ActionLine, the only 800 number for information and advocacy on human-animal interactions.
- Received Waco Childers Award from the American Humane Association.
1987
- Established first scientific journal on human-animal interactions, now called Anthrozoös.
- Sponsored development of first hippotherapy curriculum in the United States to train physical and occupational therapists to treat people with movement disorders with the help of the horse.
- Served as advisors for first Technology Assessment Workshop "Health Benefits of Pets," National Institutes of Health.
- Established first annual national awards to honor outstanding individuals, veterinarians, and community programs in the field of human-animal interactions.
- Received Silver Anvil Award from Public Relations Society of America (with Golin/Harris Communications, Inc.).
1986
- Established first and only annual national awards to honor service and therapy animals.
1985-1992
- Funded 20 studies, for a total of approximately $350,000, on how animals affect health and well-being.
1983
- Opened first national office in Renton, Washington, just south of Seattle.
- Established first national magazine on how animals enrich our lives.
- Published first guidelines for animals in nursing homes.
1982
- Designated by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
1981
- Registered as a nonprofit corporation in Washington State.
- Began sponsoring or co-sponsoring the only annual national conferences and tri-annual international conferences on human-animal interactions.
1977
- Founded as Delta Foundation in Portland, Oregon.
Delta Society operates with up to twenty members on the volunteer Board of Directors. Board members are selected for their expertise in business management, fund raising, planning, and marketing.
Active Task Forces provide direction for all aspects of the Society's programs and services. Task force members are selected for their experience and skills in animal-assisted activities/therapy, service dogs, and other program areas. They suggest program directions, help write training materials, and monitor the quality of Delta's publications and services. Delta Society programs are accomplished by empowering volunteer and professional experts, who create new materials and programs to advance the field, and conduct services at the local level.
Delta Society is a member of the International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations (IAHAIO), and serves at its headquarters.
Delta Society's current programs implement the mission of incorporating pets into the lives of:
- the general population to improve health (Health Benefits of Animals activities)
- people who are ill to improve healing (Animal-Assisted Therapy Services and Pet Partners Program®)
- people who are disabled to improve independence (National Service Dog Center® resources and information)
The Health Benefits of Animals activities are the first point of contact for most people with Delta Society. Members of the public call or write, often after reading one of our publications. The People & Pets activities focus on the role of companion animals in the everyday lives of people. Delta educates the public on the ways a strong human-animal relationship helps us maintain good health, grow and develop in positive ways, and cope with life's challenges (loss, stress, loneliness, illness). Several services are provided.
Delta's Animal-Assisted Therapy Services and Pet Partners Program help people heal through the comfort and motivation from a specially trained pet.
Delta's National Service Dog Center provides referrals and resources for people with disabilities who have service dogs to help them overcome barriers in their environments and achieve greater independence and realization of goals. The effect of this information extends beyond the individual and the service dog to include the family, workplace, and community. While service dogs enable individuals with disabilities to participate more fully in life's activities, the lack of community education can create barriers to the access and acceptance of these specially-trained dogs. Delta's role is to provide education about service dog issues and referral to appropriate resources.
