What Is Animal-Assisted Therapy?
The York Retreat in England, founded in 1792 for the treatment of people with men-
tal illness, used small animals such as rabbits and poultry in their treatment plan.
The goal was to decrease the use of restraints and medications by helping residents
learn self-control through animals that relied on them for
care. Bethel, a residential treatment center for peo-
ple with epilepsy, founded in 1867 in Germany, uti-
lized pets as an important part of the treatment
program. This pet program is still in place today
and has expanded to include farm animals and a
wild game park. In the United States in the 1940s,
injured World War II soldiers were encouraged to
work with the hogs, cattle, and horses on the farm
of the Army Air Corps Convalescent Hospital in
New York. Since that time, animals have been used
in many U.S. clinical settings from pediatrics to
geriatrics, acute-care facilities to chronic care
homes, from group accommodations to private
homes, from prevention to healing, and even from
schools to correctional facilities nationwide.What Kinds of Animals Are Used?
Therapy dogs and cats are specifically selected for temperament, companionability,
and interaction. Temperament is the animal’s natural or instinctive behavior and is
important in terms of the way the animal will react when stressed. A good therapy
pet is calm, tolerant, and friendly. The second major criterion is that the animal has
a person who is willing to volunteer time and energy in order to share the pet with
others. Dogs must be trained in obedience prior to participating in the program. A
dog or cat must be at least one year of age before enrolling in the training and visit-
ing program to better ensure that the pet has been effectively socialized and is com-
fortable interacting with numerous people in a crowded setting. In addition, the
animal’s immune system is more stabilized by this age.
A veterinarian must verify the animal’s health and inoculations must be current.
AAT-registering organizations require that a dog and its handler pass several tests
prior to registration. In general, dogs have to demonstrate basic obedience skills and
must be indifferent to crowds and distractions and unfazed by exuberant or clumsy
handling, including ear tugging and “bear hugging.” In addition, they must have a
high tolerance for unfamiliar or loud noises and peculiar smells. Therapeutic riding304 ABSOLUTE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TOALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
note
In the 1990s, the
Delta Society developed
the first comprehensive
standards of practice
for animal-assisted
therapy. Now in
its second edition,
Standards of Practice for Animal-
Assisted Activities and Animal-
Assisted Therapydefines the role
of animals in therapeutic pro-
grams.