AAAIP Events: Connect, Learn, and Grow in AAI
Join professionals like you at AAAIP events, led by AAI experts.
Upcoming AAAIP Events
Explore monthly events designed for professionals bringing therapy animals into real-world settings. AAAIP events are free to Members. Select events have an associated fee listed for Non-members. Non-members can register for events and pay the fee, if applicable, with a free AAAIP Portal Login.
Zoonotic Risk & Diet Choices: What Therapy Animal Professionals Should Know
As therapy animal partners, protecting animal welfare and public health is part of our responsibility. Join Dr. Goodman, Chief of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at Cornell Public Health, for a discussion on new research related to raw feline diets and drug-resistant bacterial infections in people. We will explore what the research shows and why it matters for therapy animal programs. You’ll learn practical steps to reduce risk and help animals, handlers, and the communities we serve stay safe.
Member Price: FREE
Non-Member: $29
C-AAIS Test Prep
Interested in the C-AAIS exam? Connect with others who share a passion for this work! During this Zoom session, we’ll use an interactive tool to review key competencies, work through practice questions, and support each other along the way.
There is no cost to attend this event.
So You Want to Take Your Dog to Work?
Ever wondered if your dog could be part of your workday? In just 30 minutes, discover how animals can support people in professional settings, and what it takes to make it safe, ethical, and rewarding. You’ll walk away with clear, practical ways to take your first step towards animal-assisted interventions.
There is no cost to attend this event.
AAI Specialist Certification Q&A
Learn how to earn the only certification for professionals working with therapy animals. Join us for answers, preparation tips, and next steps to boost your credibility and provide safe, effective interventions with the support of animals.
There is no cost to attend this event.
Putting Animal Welfare First in Therapy Animal Work with Kim Brophey
Join AAAIP for a live conversation with renowned certified dog behavior consultant and dog trainer Kim Brophey, founder of Family Dog Mediation® and creator of the L.E.G.S.® Model of Integrated Canine Science.
In this session, we’ll explore what it truly means to understand your therapy dog from their own biological and emotional standpoint. Instead of focusing only on obedience or training techniques, Kim will share how genetics, learning history, environment, and individual temperament all shape behavior.
You’ll learn why a welfare-first approach strengthens your professional credibility, and see how to build more ethical, compassionate, and effective practice that prioritizes animal well-being alongside human outcomes.
Members Price: FREE
Non-Members: $29
Navigating Therapy Animal Loss: New Research, Grief, and Professional Readiness
When a therapy dog retires or passes away, the loss can affect more than just their handler. For professionals who work with therapy animals, these transitions can shape your daily practice and your relationships with students and clients.
Join Dr. Lori Kogan as she shares findings from a new research study on how therapy dog handlers experience retirement and loss. This session will explore what the research reveals about grief, role changes, and the emotional impact that often goes unspoken in animal-assisted interventions. You’ll get clear, research-based guidance to help you care for your own well-being, prepare students or clients for change, and plan responsibly for retirement and end-of-life decisions. You will also learn how thoughtful planning can strengthen your program and protect the welfare of your animal partner.
Members Price: FREE
Non-Members: $29
What the Dog Aging Project Teaches Us About Canine Cognition and Brain Health
The Dog Aging Project is transforming what we know about canine aging, cognition, and brain health. Join Dr. Evan MacLean, Director of the Arizona Canine Cognition Center at the University of Arizona, for an inside look at one of the most ambitious studies of dogs ever conducted. You’ll get insights into how researchers are studying cognitive changes across the lifespan and what these findings reveal about behavior, longevity, and overall well-being.
In this session, you’ll learn how to view your animal partner’s development through a research-informed lens, strengthening your ability to support their welfare and make thoughtful, ethical decisions in AAI.
Members Price: FREE
Non-Members: $29
Risk Assessments with Therapy Animals: Protecting Clients, Animals, and Your Practice
Every animal-assisted intervention carries responsibility. In this session, Dr. Clare Thomas-Pino shares practical tools for conducting meaningful risk assessments in AAI. You’ll learn how to identify risk factors, make informed decisions in real-world scenarios, and tailor interventions to the client and animal. We’ll also explore collaborative delivery models, including partnering with a third-party handler and animal team to reduce risk and support you in your work. You’ll leave with greater clarity, confidence, and structure for providing safe and responsible AAI.
Members Price: FREE
Non-Members: $29
Past AAAIP Events
Missed an event? You can still access the content to support your work with therapy animals whenever it works for you. AAAIP members get free access to over 20 hours of previously recorded events as well as discounted access to previous conference sessions. Non-members can purchase recordings individually.