RUNNING HEAD: ANIMAL –ASSITED THERAPY
Animal – Assisted Therapy
Western Washington University
BY
Johnna Keck
Fall 2012
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Johnna Keck
HSP 385
Applied Research Methods
Research Proposal
12/6/2012
Animal Assisted Therapies
Increasing animal assisted therapies have been used to help individuals that are
suffering from a variety of challenges such as: medical and mental health difficulties,
behavioral problems and cognitive associations Lundahl & Nimer (2007). Studies have shown
that animal-assisted therapies use service animals that range from dogs, horses and dolphins
in therapeutic settings and sessions to help individuals that suffer from these types of
disabilities and or challenges.
According to Lundahl & Nimer (2007) they suggested, “that for centuries people have noted
that animals can have a positive influence on human functioning. Only until recently has
science investigated the therapeutic effect that animals have played a part in alleviating
mental and medical difficulties (225)”. Exposure to animals is implemented as a supplement
or in conjunction with interventions and for alternative medicines in animal assisted therapies.
How effective are these animal assisted therapies and to what degree?
I learned that there are many animal- assisted programs of therapy and that animalassisted therapy involves credential treatment providers to assist interactions between patients
and animals in guiding specific goals to be attained. Individuals who suffer from some type of
normalcy have been successful in the use of intervention with animal assisted therapy or
services animals. I found a variety of animals being used for these processes such as: dogs,
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horses and dolphins each in different health care settings, and their role in different therapeutic
exercise.
Therapeutic Exercises & Activities
The overall therapeutic exercises that are involved for most studies were having
patient’s spend time with the animals in a therapeutic setting on a weekly bases. Here is one
type of exercise activity involving animals. The patient would go outside in the yard of the
health facility to walk a dog and play fetch or just sit and pet or brush a cat. Lundahl & Nimer
(2007) suggest, that these activities were designed to increase muscle strength and improve
control of fine motor skills. The evidence that was shown in the study and the effectiveness of
these exercises by using the delivery of animals was that the patients were more accepting of
animal’s influence and showed significance improvement in their muscle strength and fine
motor skills (226)”.
Lunndahl & Nimer (2007) suggest that, “interactions with animals and their unique
ability to be attentive to the patient may serve to increase interest in the activities and mental
health functioning (226)”.
In another study were animals were being used as an intervention, they were divided
into four categories, pet visitation, animal-assisted therapy, hippotherapy and therapeutic
horseback riding. I will talk about these in each division. In the pet visitation exercises, All &
Loving (1999) reported, “pet visitations focused on fostering rapport and initiating
communication these ranged from the suggestions that animals have a positive effect on
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individuals by fostering socialization, increasing a person’s withdrawn responsiveness and
animation. By giving pleasure and enhancing morale. It was suggested that animals have a
natural tendency to bond in human-animal relations in fulfilling the needs to nurture and be
nurtured. The pets enhanced the treatment setting which reduced dependency on psychotropic
medications by helping to keep individuals in touch with reality by providing forms of sensory
stimulation (49)”. In this type of intervention the animal initiated contact and the individual
determined the direction of the visit. Socialization began as clients started conversing about the
pets.
The second category of animal intervention was the hippotherapy meaning horseback
riding. This exercise provides recreational and social benefits for individuals with chronic
illness and disabilities. All & Loving (2007) explained that, “horseback riding is used as a form
of treatment. The horse with its rhythmic, dynamic movement is used to influence the rider’s
posture, balance and mobility (52)”. The third category is “the therapeutic horseback riding that
encompasses various leisure and therapeutic activities such as leisure riding, driving and
vaulting and competitive riding. Unlike the hippotherapy, this activity incorporates the activity
of riding but also includes the activities associated with stable management (52)”. The fourth
intervention that was used in this study is the animal/pet assisted therapy that is the provision of
pets as companions for people living independently in their own homes or in assisted living
facilities may be either simulators or companions for residents of institutions, staff or both. The
last provision of visiting animals is to stimulate resident’s interests and conversations in
institutions. All & Loving (2007) expressed that, “animals introduced into an individual’s
environment humanize the provision of health and rehabilitation services (52)’.
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Horses have been used as assisted animal-therapy approach for individuals who suffer
from psychological issues. According to Bivens, Leinhart, Klontz & Klontz (2007) they found
evidence of documentation of the use of animals appeared to be early as 1792. They described
that, “equine activities were integrated with the theory and techniques of experiential therapy, a
humanistic- existential approach uses direct experience as the primary avenue to change and
relieve psychological distress (258)”. These horse related activities consists with the patients
choosing a horse, grooming, mounting, walking and trotting. These activities inquire a set of
emotions that can serve as a catalyst for personal awareness and growth in the individuals
participating. The combination experiential therapy with specific equine activities gives clients
the opportunity to work through unfinished business that they might have in order to alleviate
or relieve psychological distress.
In a study were dolphins were used as animal –assisted therapy
Berquist, Dilts & Trompisch (2011) explain that, “dolphin-human interactions have existed
since ancient times and include stories of dolphins saving humans (57)”. In this therapeutic
program the role of the dolphin is to help special needs children reach their goals in therapy
through a swim program that is an accelerated learning program to promote physical, cognitive,
psychological and social growth. Berquist, et al (2011) describes that, “once a bond has formed
between the dolphin and the child it can induce a relaxation effect. Researchers have found that
swimming with dolphins presented multiple theories that include a chemical releases in the
brain, an emotional release of love and acceptance, that intercepts the brain wave connection
and the combination of the dolphin in the water properties. These factors alone integrate to
produce change (64)”.
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Regarding victims of stroke that suffer from gait researchers explored studies were they used a
rehabilitation dog for therapeutics. Bier, Camden, Champagne, Corriveau & Dion (2010).
They discussed, “the idea to use an alternative approach by training rehabilitation dogs to
replace conventional walking aids such as a quad cane, walker and straight cane to serve as a
gait retraining approach (156)”.The activities included was to walk the dog sixty minutes a day
for four days a week. What they discovered in the walking of the dogs was that they had more
flexibility in movement and the posture was upright in comparison to the walking aids that
were used the patients seems to have a weight shift in posture when walking with a cane.
The last study that I will talk about is associations between pet ownership and self
reported health status in people suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome. Wells (2009)
discusses that the relationship between companion animals and human health has served as a
social catalyst. Individuals who are pet owners seem to live longer and be more active in their
lives as oppose to people who don’t own pets (407)”. This study pertains to owning a pet and
how the effects of ownership can prolong your life by having an animal as a companion.
Having to daily take care of an animal by walking it gives daily exercise that the pet owner
needs also this is helpful to the individual and the pet. The social aspect of having an animal
can serve as a social catalyst.
Outcomes
The evidence that was shown from the studies is the use of service animals as a direct
delivery for animal assisted therapies has proven beneficial for people suffering from
disabilities. Activities such as these above can help foster animal-human relationships that
promotes longevity in patients and animals as well as a benefit to the animal. The pattern that is
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consisted throughout these therapies is the human- animal relationship and how it plays a part
in the holistic approach of the individuals’ functioning abilities.
The benefits and their effectiveness in using these animal-assisted therapies have
significantly helped patients to live productive lives. According to Lundahl & Nimer(2007)
they reported, “The meta-analysis supported the long- held impression that animals can help in
the healing process (234)”. All & Loving (1999) reported the health outcome as to, “the nature
of the exchange of affection and companionship between animals and human differs from the
interaction with family and other human beings (50)”.
Bivens et al, (2007) disclosed, “the participants showed significant and stable reductions in
overall psychological distress and enhancements in psychological well being. Reports of
psychological symptoms had reduced; they were more oriented in the present and were able to
live a more fulfilling life. The participants stated that they were less burdened with regrets,
guilt and resentments, less fearful of the future and became more independent and selfsupportive (263)’. Berquist et al, (2011) described, “that during the course of therapy positive
changes took place for the participating children with special needs they became more socially
and verbally expressive and relaxed, decreased inhibition and anxiety disorders (64)”.
Bier et al, (2010) exploratory suggest, “that using a rehabilitation dog is promising approach for
improving walking parameters such as walking speed and gait patterns but needs further work
on this approach to better describe its different aspects (162)”. Wells (2009) expressed, “that
the findings from this study suggest that many people with chronic fatigue syndrome enjoy
keeping pets and believe they gain psychological health advantages from ownership of a
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companion animal. Pet owners with chronic fatigue expressed reduced levels of loneliness,
anxiety and depression (407-411)”.
This research has lead me to believe that there is a benefit to animal-assisted therapy for
people who are suffering from some normalcy and it is effectiveness is in the degree of their
quality of life. In the scope of rehabilitation methods and models used in animal-assisted
therapies for rehabilitating patients in conjunction for alternative medicines seems to benefit a
society who has grown accustom to relying on prescribed medication for whatever ails them.
This is why I chose this topic of interest to hopefully get some understanding of guided animal
therapies and other alternatives besides prescribed medication. It seems as there is a positive
effect on the individuals seeking help for their disabilities not to say how much it is helping our
society by incorporating animals as naturopathy, holistic approach in rehabilitating the
individuals who suffering from a variety of disabilities or challenges, to some kind of normalcy
in their everyday lives. I would say its cost effective and the pharmaceutical
companies aren’t making billions of dollars off individuals who are in a disadvantage position.
The overall theory in these studies is that animals foster animal-human relationships that help
promote interconnectedness for the wellbeing of individuals who suffer from challenges of a
variety of disabilities.
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Hypothesis
In this study participants will be pet owners and will participate in animal-assisted
therapies and the non-pet owners who suffer from disabilities and who are adults living in their
own homes. Taking prescribed medications for their ailments. This study will show how
effective animal assisted therapies can help individuals who suffer from a variety of disabilities
live a healthier lifestyle. I predict that the pet owners will be more active and receive lower
doses of their prescribed medications and that the non-pet owners will stay at their regular dose
and live less active lives. I predict that the pet owners will express on an emotional level that
owning a pet and participating in animal-assisted therapies has helped them function better on
an emotional level. They will suggest that they had a bond with this animal and was expected to
take care of it made them feel needed. Regarding the physical realm they will express they are
more active having to take care of something else and was more sociable. They will describe
that they felt less lonely. They will suggest that it is cost effective because they’re not paying
out as much on prescriptions because they are taking fewer doses due to feeling better by
owning a pet. I predict that there will be no change in the non-pet owners.
Method
The sampling frame of this study will be individuals who suffer from some type of disabilities
and own a pet. The controlled group will be adults who suffer from a disability and don’t own a
pet or have any contact with one. This study will be done in the state of Washington by random
sampling from the pet owners and representative samples from the non-pet owners.
In order to measure the outcome of this study it will be ongoing for a period of one year.
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Design
This is a longitudinal study using a pretest-posttest model and will be measured by using a
measure of association and chi-square. The independent variable in this study is animal assisted
therapies and the dependent variable is the health of the adult individuals. The materials that
will be used is a self report form that will answer a series of questions pertaining to how they
feel, and their medication regime. This questionnaire will be given in the beginning of the study
and again in the middle of the study which would be in 6 months and again at the end of the
year.
Procedure
I will solicit and select pet owners from pet associations who suffer from disabilities and nonpet owners who suffering from disabilities from mental health agencies who want to
participate. The pet owners will participate in animal assisted therapies once a week for a year
and the non-pet owners will just take the pretest and posttest in the beginning of the year trial
and at the end of the trial.
Discussion
If my predicaments are right this study will show that it is better for society to incorporate
animals as an alternative for prescription drugs. Animals have a natural tendency to bond with
humans therefore helping us be more sociable and active.
Further research could examine alternatives of animal-assisted therapies versus individuals
taking prescribed medication and its effect on the drug companies losing out on money due to
the animal-assisted therapies becoming more prevalent in an alternative method versus taking
prescribe medications for their disabilities.
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References
All, A. C. Crane, L. L, Loving, G.L. (1999). Animals, horseback riding, and implications for
rehabilitation therapy. Journal of Rehabilitation, 49-57
Bier, N., Camden, C., Champagne, N., Corriveau, H., Dion, C., Rondeau, L. (2010).
Effectiveness of a rehabilitation dog in fostering gait retraining for adults with a recent
stroke: A multiple single-case study. NeuroRehabilitation 27 155-163 doi:
10.3233/NRE-2010-0592
Berquist, T., Dilts, R., Trompisch, N. (2011). Dolphin-assisted therapy for children with
special needs: A pilot study. Journal of Creativity in mental Health (6) 56-68 doi:
10.1080/15401383.2011.557309
Bivens, A., Leinart, D., Klontz, B. T., & Klontz, T. (2007). The effectiveness of equineassisted experiential therapy: results of an open clinical trial. Society and Animals
(15), 257-267 doi: 10.1163/156853007X217195
Lundahl, B. & Nimer, J. (2007). Animal-assisted therapy: a meta-analysis. College of Social
Work, 20 (3), 225-238
Wells, D.L. (2009). Associations between pet ownership and self-reported health status in
people suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome. The Journal of Alternative and
Complementary Medicine 15, (4), 407-413 doi: 10.1089/acm.2008.0496