70 Section 4
From a medical point of view is important to assess the patient’s phys-
ical and cognitive functions and to ensure that they have sufficient sup-
port systems (e.g. home helpers or family) to enable the proper care of the
animal (Johnson, 2009). Some non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
working in this area are coming across issues related to ‘invisible frailty’.
Targeted interventions can help to make these issues visible to available
community support but, for this to happen, such interventions need to be
enabled.
There are also societal aspects of pet companionship and its positive
effects on human well-being. Cohabiting with pets may, for example, en-
courage humans to care more about animals and nature; or it may encourage
them to interact with other people in their community, promoting – where
animals are kept responsibly – positive social interactions. Overall, they
contribute towards the social capital of communities, and many times also
help people to get in touch with each other and so help to foster a commu-
nity spirit (Mills, 2012). While the positive effects of companion animals on
human health and welfare are well documented, it is important to note that
there may be negative effects in some cases, although to date these have not
been widely reported.
Assisted intervention programmes may include a wide range of ani-
mals, although most appear to be undertaken with dogs, horses and farm
animals. Much of the focus of such interventions is on the human benefits
(e.g. Friedmann and Son, 2009), but more needs to be done to understand
whether the animals also benefit from these interactions, so that mutually
beneficial One Welfare interventions can be made. Examples of existing
intervention programmes that are already taking place across the world
include:
- Animal-assisted intervention (AAI), an overarching term that encom-
passes all different intervention types. It applies where animals support
the rehabilitation or social care of humans (Kruger and Serpell, 2006).
This can involve inclusion of the animals in various activities or a more
targeted, pure therapy approach (i.e. a professional using the animal for
treatment to heal a specific disorder). This can include post-traumatic
stress disorder interventions, such as programmes for soldiers, refugees
or those who have suffered traumatic experiences; and support animals
for disabled people, such as dogs for the blind or deaf, riding for the
disabled, etc. Managed rehoming of animals to people who may benefit
from having an animal to care for is also carried out, provided there is
a suitable support network, which should include access to support for
both the human and animal.
- Animal-assisted therapy (AAT), an AAI where there is a defined goal of