Wednesday, 22 April 2026 Welcoming a Volunteer from the Tačke pomagačke Society: Exploring the Effects of Animal-Assisted Therapy

Today, we hosted Mojka Mehora Lavrič, a volunteer from the Tačke pomagačke society, at the faculty premises. The lecture was organized in collaboration with Prof. Daša Grajfoner as part of the courses Educational Psychology (1st year of the Master’s program in Psychology) and Evolutionary Psychology (1st year of the undergraduate program in Biopsychology).

The presentation focused on the activities of the Tačke pomagačke society, its programs, and the various user groups it serves. Special emphasis was placed on practical examples of working with therapy dogs, the requirements for including both dog and handler, and the competencies needed for such work.

The lecture also addressed whether certain dog breeds are more suitable for therapeutic work, and what the relationship between a dog and its handler looks like compared to typical pet ownership. An important part of the content was dedicated to animal welfare and how society ensures that the work is not overly demanding for the dogs.

The event provided insight into the effects of animal-assisted therapy, as well as the responses of users and professionals, while also opening space for reflection on the broader significance of the human–animal relationship in modern society.

The Tačke pomagačke society is a volunteer organization that has been carrying out therapy work with dogs in around 130 institutions across Slovenia.