Understanding Legal and Ethical Issues in Mandated Animal Abuse Reporting in Ohio

The College of Health and Human Services Alumni Affiliate, in partnership with The College of Health and Human Services Social Work Program, held a program on Wednesday, March 24.

Dr. Janet Hoy-Gerlach, LISW-S, Ph.D., associate professor in the UToledo Social Work Program, will present the CE program, "Understanding Legal and Ethical Issues in Mandated Animal Abuse Reporting in Ohio." Dr. Hoy-Gerlach has more than 20 years of experience in community mental health service delivery. She is an advocate of recognizing and supporting the bonds between people and animals as client strengths within social work practice, as well as across settings and populations.

Dr. Hoy-Gerlach's current research is focused on the health benefits of the human-animal bond, specifically as related Emotional Support Animals (ESAs). She has trained and presented nationally and internationally on ESAs and has served as an expert witness on ESAs for the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Department. As an advisor to Ohio Animal Advocates, Dr. Hoy-Gerlach has provided expert testimony on animal abuse reporting in social work practice for Ohio legislative hearings.

She helped develop the Hope and Recovery Pet Program, which places shelter animals as ESAs through a unique collaboration between ProMedica, the Toledo Humane Society and The University of Toledo, one of the only such programs in the Nation.