The Impacts of Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) on Active Participation in Therapy Sessions: A Descriptive Case Series Study

Abstract

Date Presented 03/27/20 This case series examined differences in participation in OT sessions involving AAT versus no AAT. Nine children with neurological conditions completed three similar activities, once with and once without AAT. Repetitions and length of engagement were recorded for each activity. No consistent differences between the conditions were recorded, perhaps because the integration of a dog added a dynamic component, affecting how activities were completed. Primary Author and Speaker: Ellen Herlache-Pretzer Additional Authors and Speakers: Melissa Winkle Contributing Authors: Kristin Brown, Brianna Bommarito, Jodi Andres, Sarah Hoffmann, Amanda Ewer

Examining the Effects of Animal-Assisted Activities Against Standard Treatment in a University Setting

“…Likewise, Binfet and Passmore (2016) found that students who attended an eight-week AAI course reported an increase in overall satisfaction and feelings of relaxation. These findings are consistent with the positive feedback received at universities which have implemented structured therapy dog programmes (e.g., Bell, 2013;Herlache-Pretzer et al, 2020).…”