PATH INTERNATIONAL

Andrea M. Beetz, Psychologist (MA), PhD, has worked in the science and practice of human-animal interaction for more than 20 years. In her research she investigated a wide variety of topics including: the basic mechanisms of action in animal-assisted interventions and human-animal interactions; attachment between humans and dogs; effects of school dogs; animal-assisted interventions in therapy and special education with horses, dogs and guineapigs; and the link between animal abuse and interpersonal violence.

Dr. Beetz is an expert on animal-assisted education and has presented her work in many international journals and at conferences. She is active on the boards of the International Society of Anthrozoology (ISAZ), the International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations (IAHAIO), and the International Society for Animal-Assisted Therapy (ISAAT). Currently, she is affiliated with the Department of Special Education at the Universit of Rostock, Germany, and the Department of Behavioral Biology, University of Vienna, Austria.