Amy Thomson is a community dog handler for Dogs for Good, a U.K.-based charity that creates partnerships between people living with disability and specially trained assistance dogs. With her community dog Rita, she has worked on animal assisted intervention programs that support individuals on dementia care and mental health wards, as well as working with adults with additional needs in the community.
She joined Dogs for Good in 2008 after finishing a degree in animal behavior and welfare. Initially, she trained assistance dogs, then became an instructor working with families with children with autism and their family dogs. She also spent three years working as a pediatric occupational therapy assistant for a local authority before re-joining Dogs for Good two years ago. She also runs her own dog training business, where she offers one-to-one training and puppy classes and is a provisional member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors.
Sessions
Human-Animal Bond: Endless Opportunities