Ann Howie

What I do

Ann Howie has enjoyed and learned from animals in her life since birth. She began integrating animals into her counseling practice in 1987 and has worked with animals in (human) healthcare ever since. She founded and coordinated a hospital animal-assisted activities and therapy program from 1990-1997. She has written two textbooks for animal-program coordinators and contributes to internationally recognized training books on handler skills, animal-handler evaluation, and Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) techniques.

Howie also provides therapy dog training and screening of animal-handler teams for appropriateness for animal-assisted interactions programs. She emphasizes animal well being in her work. She was Delta Society®'s Director of AAT Services from 1995-2000, and she is an Eden Associate. Howie is an adjunct faculty member at University of Denver's Graduate School of Social Work in the on-line Animals in Human Health certificate.

Ann consults nationally and internationally through her business, Human-Animal Solutions. Ann shares her life with her husband Doug and (currently) two Wheaten Terriers, and multitudes of wild birds and squirrels.