Section outline

  • Christian Leaders Institute & Christian Leaders Alliance

    Pet Assisted Chaplaincy Practice (1 Module)

    Serve people with calm presence, wise boundaries, and Scripture-rooted hope through safe, practical, and consent-based pet assisted ministry.

    Team led by Rev. Henry and Pam Reyenga • Video Presenter: Haley Steiner
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    This course equips chaplains to include a wisely selected and properly prepared animal in real ministry settings where pet presence may support comfort, trust, and relational connection.

    Pet assisted chaplaincy requires calm maturity, practical wisdom, safe interaction, respect for people and animals, and thoughtful discernment about when animal presence is—or is not—appropriate in ministry settings.
    Course Description

    Rather than repeating general chaplaincy themes, this course focuses on the practical work of pet assisted ministry: animal suitability, basic training, handler wisdom, people-smart interaction, safety, hygiene, and setting-specific discernment.

    Students learn how pet assisted chaplaincy can strengthen ministry in settings such as nursing homes, assisted living, community chaplaincy, neighborhood outreach, disability ministry, recovery ministry, church visitation, Christmas chaplaincy, and Soul Center care.

    The course also teaches when animal presence is not appropriate, how to recognize stress in the animal, how to avoid awkward or sentimental ministry habits, and how to offer spiritual care with calm maturity.

    This is a strong companion specialization for chaplains who want to pair pet assisted ministry with other ministry settings and specializations.

    Course Outcomes

    This course will help you:

    • Define the pet assisted chaplain role with clear practical and spiritual boundaries.
    • Assess whether an animal is suitable, prepared, and safe for ministry use.
    • Develop handler skills for calm, respectful, and well-guided ministry visits.
    • Build trust through steady presence, wise pacing, and people-smart interaction.
    • Apply consent, safety, hygiene, animal welfare, and ministry ethics in real settings.
    • Offer prayer, Scripture, and spiritual care by permission in ways that are natural and non-coercive.

    Program Fit

    Who This Course Serves

    Audience

    Volunteer, part-time, and full-time chaplains, visitation ministers, community chaplains, and church-connected care leaders who want to include animal presence in approved ministry settings.

    Standalone or Paired

    Course Pathway

    May be taken as a standalone course, but it is especially valuable when paired with the Christian Leaders Institute Chaplain Foundations course or with setting-based specializations such as Community Chaplaincy, Nursing Home Chaplaincy, Christmas Chaplaincy, Disability Ministry, or related care ministries.

    Best Use

    Practical Application

    Useful for community chaplaincy, neighborhood walking ministry, visitation, grief support, elder care, disability ministry, recovery settings, holiday ministry, and Soul Center outreach.

    Course Requirements

    • Required: View all video lectures and complete assigned readings.
    • Quizzes: Open-book • 75-minute time limit • 2 attempts total.
    • Passing Requirement: 60% minimum average.
    • Deadline: 180 days from enrollment.

    Final Feedback Form

    Your final requirement is a feedback form to help improve this course for future students.

    Policy-Aligned Care

    This course emphasizes consent-based ministry, role clarity, safe animal-assisted presence, practical training, hygiene awareness, animal welfare, and healthy collaboration with ministry leaders, staff, families, and referral partners. Those pursuing ordination pathways may continue through the Christian Leaders Alliance.

    Ready to begin? Scroll up and click the “Enroll me” button to get started.