Seeking to un-entangle the entangled : a multispecies perspective on leisure for therapy interactions

![CDATA[While demand for AAI (Animal Assisted Interactions) is increasing, there are few parameters around the use of these services from a multi-species, or animal inclusive perspective. AAI involves both humans and animals in what can be seen as essentially a leisure experience for both, as usually both human handlers and the animals with them are volunteers. However, to date most, if not all research into AAI has been humancentric with limited awareness of the animals involved as sentient living beings. Research into both the handler and dog’s experiences is essential to add value to this emerging field. In addition, animals can no longer be seen as just a ‘tool’ to enhance human wellbeing (Fatjo et al., 2021). Multispecies ethnography views animals as ‘more than human’, acknowledging the connectedness of human and non-human beings (Münster & Locke, 2015) and seeks to include understandings of the animal experience within research framings. Using multi-species ethnography to explore AAI necessitates seeking ways of gaining insights from both humans and animals engaged in the process of providing AAI. But while there are established means of gleaning human information, finding ways to understand animal experiences is in its infancy. This presentation focuses on research seeking to place both support canines and their human handlers at the centre of understanding AAI experiences using multi-species methods. Asking as a core question “what’s in it (AAI) for the dogs?” and how can we seek to know this so that in the entanglement of AAI all species can experience life enhancing engagements.]]