Animal Assisted Therapy

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is defined as the utilization of animals as a form of therapy to bring about healing and rehabilitation of patients with disabilities or acute or chronic ailments.

It is a “goal-directed” intervention in which an animal that meets specific criteria is an integral part of the treatment process.

Several types of  animals are utilized, including:

• Service animals are trained to work for the benefit of a disabled person.
• Therapy animals are usually personal pets of their handlers, but   provide opportunities for people to be in contact with animals.
• Companion animals are pets.
• Social animals do not have special training  but are made available as pets to individuals with disabilities

Research shows that AAT promotes shorter hospital stays and dramatically improves patients’ feelings of well-being.  It has been proven that animals promote relaxation and calmness and a decrease in blood-pressure.  AAT increases oxytocin (which decreases the sense of isolation and loneliness), while increasing feelings of connectedness.  And, petting an animal has been shown to reduce pain because it releases endorphins, which are the chemicals that suppress pain.