Although the human-animal bond has existed for thousands of years, the formal study of Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a relatively new field. AAT is a therapy that involves animals as a form of treatment. The aim of AAT is to improve a patient’s social, emotional or cognitive functions and it can also be used for educational and motivational purposes.
Companion animals commonly used for therapy include dogs, cats, horses, birds, rabbits and other small animals.
Such animals make people feel safe and appreciated. They do not communicate with words and so patients afraid of approaching people can comfortably approach an animal. Also, a therapist with a companion animal is less intimidating and so an uncommunicative patient may be more willing to respond.
The contribution of companion animals in people’s lives is conducted using specialized intervention methods termed Animal Facilitated Activities. These interventions have taken place in different scientific fields including genetics, biology, developmental psychology, nursing and psychoanalysis. In medical and veterinary science, they are divided in two groups:
- animal assisted therapy and
- animal assisted activities.
The involvement of veterinarians in these programs from their inception is critical. They serve as advocates for public health and welfare and the health of animals participating in these programs; as experts in zoonotic disease transmission; as experts about the wellbeing of the animals; as experts about the kind, genetic profile, sex and age of the animals that participate in the programs and can provide answers to fundamental questions concerning animal husbandry and behaviour.
FECAVA recognizes that the human animal bond is important to human and community health and has therefore organized a special Symposium with the title ‘’Animal assisted facilities: companionship works its magic’’ during the WSAVA/FECAVA/BSAVA Congress 2012.
Simon Orr, FECAVA President, will give a brief introduction to the organisations policy about animal assisted facilities’ and the invited speakers are; Dr James Serpell, the Director of the Center for the Interaction of Animals and Society at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Elizabeth Ormerod, the Chair of the Society for Companion Animal, and Dr. Jane Fossey, a clinical psychologist and deputy chairman of the Society for Companion Animal Studies.