Animal-Assisted Therapy

People with pets: Understanding the influence of human-companion animal attachment on empathy and resilient coping in adulthood.

“…Reviewing the therapeutic effects of HAIs in hospital settings, Aubrey Fine (2002) suggested that these programs may provide patients with distractions from their treatment routine such that patients were found to suffer from less felt pain and less hyperactivity, as well they maintained healthier blood pressure, and were likely to feel calmer. Other research among nursing home residents and of an at-home-living elderly sample found that pets contribute to less spending on prescription medications (Montague, 1995), and fewer physician visits (Siegel, 1990) suggesting that the companionship provided by pets may affect perceived health.…”

“…Health benefits associated with emotional support provided by HAIs include less suffering from pain, lower blood pressure (Fine, 2002), fewer physician visits (Siegel, 1990), and less money spent on prescription medication (Montague, 1995) among the elderly, as well as increased physical functioning among elderly dementia patients visited by volunteers with dogs (Kawamara et al, 2007). Among women (Tower & Nokota, 2006) and inmates (Correctional Services of Canada, 1998) emotional support from pets has decreased depression levels.…”

“…The eight developmental stages of Erikson (1963) have been applied to the clinical application of human-animal relationships (Fine, 2002(Fine, , 2006. For example, in developmental stage 1 the goal is developing basic trust rather than mistrust, whereby the infant must develop a loving, trusting relationship with a caregiver.…”

“…For example, in developmental stage 1 the goal is developing basic trust rather than mistrust, whereby the infant must develop a loving, trusting relationship with a caregiver. Therapeutically, if a child failed to achieve basic trust with a caregiver, a relationship with an affectionate therapy animal may be used to help him learn to trust and to accept that he is worthy of being loved (Fine, 2002;Gonski, 1985). Kidd and Kidd (1987) suggested that since the element of touch is crucial to both development and interacting with companion animals that developmental models may be applied to HAIs.…”

“…The terms animalassisted therapy (AAT) and animal-assisted activities (AAA) have been applied to the use of non-human animals for specific functions of goal-directed interventions and for instructional, educational, recreational, or therapeutic benefit (Fine, 2002;Granger & Kogan, 2006;Kruger, Trachtenberg, & Serpell, 2004;Slugoski, 2008). Animal-assisted intervention (AAI)…”