Development of ethical standards for research of animal-assisted interventions

Research into animal-assisted interventions (AAI) is crucial for quality assurance and the development of professional standards. As research in AAI in various fields is growing, research ethics must be considered. In Germany, as in many other countries, research projects on AAI are mainly assessed by ethics committees, which only focus on evaluating risks and benefits for human subjects. Research ethical standards must also be developed for the animals involved in the research of AAI to ensure animal welfare before, during, and after empirical studies. Therefore, the Research Division of the Federal Association of Animal Assisted Intervention Germany developed a position paper on the ethical standards for research of AAI. These standards describe requirements for AAI in research projects and requirements regarding research designs and minimising risks. Finally, considerations regarding the responsibility of the researchers are presented. The position paper aims to advance the discussion on research ethics standards and consistent international standards.