The purpose of this thesis was to explore the significance of animal-assisted social work as a method of facilitating interaction, as part of the getting-to-know-you process between a social worker and a child. Speeding up the relationship of trust by animal-assisted social work, can save financial resources and potentially reduce costly and long-term treatment periods. The aim of this thesis was also to ensure the safety and ethically sustainable encounter of all parties involved in animal-assisted social work.

This was a practice-based thesis, commissioned by Kyyhkyrinne farm. The outcome of the thesis was an interaction guide for the animal-assisted intervention provided by social workers in Kyyhkyrinne farm. The content and activities in the guide were based on previous theoretical knowledge of interaction and its significance for creating trust between a child and a social worker. The material for the thesis was collected from research data, the commissioning company’s own publications and documents, and by using participatory observation methods. In addition, the commissioner’s experiences and professional skills in animal-assisted activity were utilized in the thesis process.

This qualitative study resulted in clear benefits for animal-assisted interaction. It provided more tools for animal-assisted social work, as well as produced valuable information on animal-assisted intervention as an interaction-enhancing activity for social work professionals working in the Kyyhkyrinne farm. The first part of the interaction guide consists of theoretical knowledge of the interaction process. The second part explains how to work with animals ethically and safely, by accounting for their species-specific needs and ways of emotional expression. With the help of the concrete tasks included in the functional section of the guide, professionals will be able to use animal-assisted interventions in social work more actively than before.