The Canadian Foundation for Animal-Assisted Support Services (CFAS) has expressed the need for CAN/HRSO-500.04-2021 in order to promote and facilitate service excellence across Canada. Animal-Assisted Services (AAS) are mutually beneficial relationships that nurture One Health for People, Pets, and PartnersTM. Health in this context includes the physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being of people of all ages and the welfare of pets in service and other animals in service (Source: The Canadian Foundation for Animal-Assisted Support Services (CFAS)). AAS is a growing, multi-faceted and multi-disciplinary sector comprised of complementary industries. Because AAS is unregulated at both the provincial and federal levels, practitioners' and service providers' credibility is questionable, resulting in increased risks to end-users, consumers and their families, and the animals involved in service delivery. Additionally, the lexicon related to AAS is inconsistent and confusing, compromising quality, credibility, and measuring the impact of outcomes. Systemic inconsistencies and gaps also complicate accessing AAS in Canada. An NSC for the production and delivery of AAS during publicly declared emergencies is required to: • ensure a consistent level of safety and well-being of consumers/end-users, and safeguard the welfare of animals in service during publicly declared emergencies, and • ensure the uniform delivery of essential AAS services during publicly declared emergencies.