The Delta Society defines animal-assisted therapy as "a goal-directed intervention in which an animal is incorporated as an integral part of the clinical healthcare treatment process." Unlike other animal-assisted activities, animal-assisted therapy, or AAT, is led by a professional such as a physical therapist, occupational therapist, recreational therapist, teacher, or other certified provider of AAT. While other animal-assisted activities may enhance a person's quality of life, they do not have specific goals attached to them. Animal-assisted therapy requires a certified professional to have goals for each child with whom they work. Goals may address several areas: (1) Improving fine motor skills; (2) Education; (3) Improving physical, mental, and emotional status; (4) Reducing anxiety or loneliness; and (5) Increasing motivation. Goals help the professional plan activities for the child and the animal in order to maximize the benefit of the animal-assisted therapy. AAT has been used with many different populations such as older adults in nursing homes, patients in hospitals, reading groups, and children in schools. This article focuses on AAT's effect on children with various disabilities. (Contains 4 resources.)