| | | | | assisted therapy program in 1998 and has since |
| Taking a Closer Look at Animal Assisted Therapy | | | | expanded the program to include numerous dogs, |
| If you or someone you love suffers from a physical or | | | | which provide therapy to children in groups as well as |
| mental disability, you might be interested in learning | | | | on an individual basis. |
| more about animal assisted therapy. With the many | | | | In addition to helping encourage children to engage in |
| documented benefits of animal assisted therapy, it is | | | | their prescribed therapy, there are many other benefits |
| certainly a technique that you might want to explore | | | | of animal assisted therapy. For example, interacting |
| further in order to improve the health of the person | | | | with animals can improve the overall quality of life of |
| you care about. | | | | the sick or injured child. As a result, it can help speed |
| What is Animal Assisted Therapy? | | | | up recovery time. Furthermore, the bonds that children |
| | | | form with animals can be quite beneficial and results in |
| Animal assisted therapy isn’t all about spending | | | | the pet serving as a sort of “co-therapist” in the |
| time with a cute and cuddly animal, though this can | | | | child’s therapeutic program. |
| certainly be part of the process. Rather, animal | | | | Another one of the benefits of animal assisted therapy |
| assisted therapy is a type of physical or occupational | | | | is that caring for the animals can help special needs |
| therapy that involves utilizing animals in order to help | | | | children develop more independence. By having them |
| meet therapeutic goals. For example, a child with a | | | | feed, groom and otherwise care for the animal, children |
| physical disability or injury that has lead to muscle | | | | can improve their fine motor skills, cognitive skills, |
| weakness in the arms may be encouraged to pet an | | | | dressing skills, play skills and more. |
| animal with the weak arm. The therapist may also add | | | | The reality is that spending time with a loving pet |
| weights to the child’s arm in order to further help | | | | makes everyone feel better, whether in need of |
| strengthen the muscles. With the help of the pet, the | | | | therapy or not. So, if allowing a furry, four-legged friend |
| child is more motivated to lift the arm and perform the | | | | to interact with sick children can help them heal faster, |
| exercises that are necessary for recovery. What are | | | | why wouldn’t you implement animal assisted |
| the Benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy? | | | | therapy into a therapeutic program? |
| | | | Animal assisted therapy is quickly gaining attention |
| The benefits of animal assisted therapy have long | | | | from therapists from around the world. With these |
| been recognized by St. Mary’s Hospital for Children | | | | many benefits of animal assisted therapy, it is easy to |
| in New York. In fact, the hospital started a pilot animal | | | | understand why. |