Member Forum: Turning Sheltered Dogs into Promoters of Human Welfare
Event: Turning Sheltered Dogs into Promoters of Human Welfare
Location: Online only
Date: 1 October 2026
Time: 5 PM Central European Time (CET) | 11 AM Eastern Standard Time (USA)
Description:
This virtual workshop presents practical strategies for selecting, socializing, and training shelter dogs for Animal-Assisted Services (SAA), based on a case in southern Brazil. It aims to increase adoption opportunities for mixed-breed dogs with low social visibility, preparing them to promote human well-being. The approach offers a replicable model for institutions in low-resource settings, supporting animal reintegration and advancing SAA in developing countries.
Meet the Speaker:
Leila Scucato Marçal is a licensed physiotherapist and Assistant Professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR), Brazil, where she teaches Animal-Assisted Therapy in the Health Sciences programs. She holds a Master’s degree in Animal Science from PUCPR, where her research focused on developing structured dog-assisted physiotherapy protocols for pediatric neurological rehabilitation and motor development in partnership with AMCIP.
As a member of Instituto Cão Companheiro, Leila is part of the research team led by Rafael and Natália, the lead investigators behind the shelter dog initiative presented in this session. Their work focuses on canine behavioral evaluation (using standardized protocols such as the Ethotest), as well as the socialization, training, and ethical preparation of shelter dogs for Animal-Assisted Services roles. Grounded in a One Health framework and international standards, they are dedicated to developing accessible and replicable models for integrating shelter and mixed-breed dogs into Animal-Assisted Services.
