Benefits of Pet Therapy
Benefits of Pet Therapy
Benefits of Pet Therapy
Benefits of Pet Therapy
Why Pet Therapy is Increasingly Important
Community programs that bring animals and people together for companionship and therapy began in the 1970s, and are growing rapidly.
The introduction of animals into the patients' environment is a way of humanizing health care. This is becoming increasing important because the more that high technology is introduced into society, the greater the need for "high touch." Naisbitt, 1982.
Benefits for Seniors
Among seniors, pet therapy:
- Diminishes emotional pain
- Diminishes physical pain
- Reduces boredom
- Reduces anxiety
- Makes people happy!
Benefits for Children
Among children who are in homeless shelters or institutionalized, pet therapy teaches:
- Gentleness
- Caring
- Responsibility
- How to interact safely with a pet, and most importantly,
- Allows them to love a pet
Children exposed to educational programs on the humane treatment of animals display enhanced empathy for humans compared with children not exposed to such programs.
Quotations from Leading Studies
"Paws & Hearts" Animal Assisted Therapy reduces emotional, physical pain, boredom, anxiety, makes seniors happy, teaches kids in shelters, institutions, gentleness, responsibility, safe pet contact & allows kids to love pets.
Pets provide internal chemical therapeutics for people.
Tests show that within minutes of petting a dog, the humans and dogs alike experience massive release of such beneficial hormones as prolactin, oxytocin and phenylethylamine.
"Oliver" has been visiting the residents at Rancho Mirage Healthcare prior to Covid and is back again full-force. "Oliver" and his Mom Abril are very much loved by the residents and that staff at the facility!
"Since the hospital began a canine program early last year, patients have credited the dogs with improving their moods and motivating them to recover faster. Dogs give patients something to take their minds off the enormity of their problems." Ladies Home Journal.
"With the kids who are medically fragile, they're often tense. But sometimes when they pet dogs, their hands and indeed, entire bodies relax, open up, and their breathing slows down. Overall, they become more physically and emotionally relaxed." Dogs in Canada Magazine.
"Researchers found even one 30-minute long session of animal assisted therapy reduced loneliness to a statistically significant degree." Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences.
"Community programs that bring animals and people together for companionship and therapy began in the 1970s, and are growing rapidly. The introduction of animals into the patients environment is a way of humanizing health care. This is becoming increasing important because the more that high technology is introduced into society, the greater the need for "high touch." Naisbitt.
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