Senior Project

Animal assisted therapy, a therapy that gives love and hope to patients. An animals love is something that can impact a persons emotions and outlook on the world in so many ways. Some one who has a pet can honestly say that animals are true companionsand wont let you down.. This type of therapy allows patients to become more acceptable of the problems and lets them get out their comfort zones. Animal assisted therapy uses a veriaty of animals and has many uses and effects on people.

Pet therapy involves almost any species of animals (Pet Therapy). The majority of animals used are highly social, domesticated, animals that are amendable to training (Per Therapy). Dogs and horses are the most popular animals used in animals assisted therapy (Pet Therapy). Other animals such as cats and smaller animals are also used (Other). The presence of an animal can make the patient feel more at home, and ables them to relax (Other).

Canines seem to be the most common animal used as a therapy animal (Other). They are the most successful with emotionally troubled people (Other). A dog has the ability to empathize and physically interact with people (Other). This helps emotionally impaired people create a safe relationship with the animals so they can let their gard down (Other). This is why dogs are called mans best friend (HealthInfo21). Dogs main uses are to relieve depression and anxiety (HealthInfo21). They can calm and motivate the patients to increase their physical activities (HealthInfo21). Dogs are amazing listeners to people. They have the capability to listen to children read and play games with them. They can even just simply stay with the patient to keep them company (HealthInfo21). Therapy dogs are easily found in hospitals, nursing homes, and rehablitation centers.(). They are also found in mental helath facilities and childrens homes helping people of all sorts with all kinds of needs (HealthInfo21). Therapy dogs are not required to be any certain breed as long as they can be trained to respond to the patients needs (HealthInfo21). Dogs are used because they are the most familiar animal to people and are the most skilled at working with human kind (HealthInfo21).

Horses have been domesticated for thousands of years ().