KitTea/Therapy Animals +Pets
Here is what seems to be a fairly comprehensive list of places that offer Pet Therapy in California : http://www.therapypets.com/jackies-list/practitioners/california/
What exactly are therapy animals? What do they do?
They are animals that have been screened and undergone behavioral training, but are not truly considered service animals. This is because they exist just to provide comfort (As opposed to doing any specific tasks as classified under the Americans with Disabilities Act) (3). This is an important distinction because the owners are therefore not covered under many laws (although some states have protective laws in place). While commonly dogs, they can be rabbits, cats, and other species (providing they have the right temperament). They are screened for their positive ability to interact with humans, other animals, and the world around them. Additionally, they must not shed a lot, be well and even tempered, be well socialized/exposed to many different environments, love working with people, and love cheering people up. Their primary purpose is to produce comfort, a sense of security, and affection. They are used in nursing homes, hospitals, schools, disaster areas and more. They tend to be privately owned, and visit locations on a regular, recurring basis. While the animal is important, so are their handlers. The owners are the care takers, and are responsible for bring up a responsible therapy animal. There are three types - 1) Facility Therapy Animal, 2) Animal Assisted Therapy Animal, and 3) Therapeutic Visitation Animals. Facility Therapy Animals work primary with people with Alzheimers and dementia, although they can work with any patents with mental illness. They typically work in nursing homes (where they live), and work to keep patients out of trouble. Animal Assisted Therapy Animals assist physical and occupational therapists reach their goals and assist in patient recovery. They usually work in rehabilitation facilities and help people with a variety of tasks, such as regaining motion. Therapeutic Visitation Animals are the most common type. They are household pets whose owners take them to different facilities (like schools, hospitals etc). They help people who are away from home due to medical/law issues (such as mental and physical illness), and can hep ease separation anxiety between people and their own pets they are separated from. (1) (4)
Service Animals
Service animals are those that benefit specific individuals. According to the American's with Disabilities website, "The ADA defines a service animal as any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. If they meet this definition, animals are considered service animals under the ADA regardless of whether they have been licensed or certified by a state or local government. (2)" Service animals perform tasks that individuals cannot, and are trained to do so. The third source, which can be found here, answers many questions about service animals, with special regards to dogs. (2) (3) (4)
Importance to Real Life (Including my Project)
While perhaps not the most reputable of sources, ServiceDogCentral.org describes service and therapy animals as "providing therapeutic support to a disabled or elderly owner through companionship, non-judgmental positive regard, affection, and a focus in life." There are studies done - such as this one about service animals and PTSD published by the government and this more general one focusing on mental illness (also government sponsored - show the positive effects. From what I have seen so far at my internship at KitTea, people seem more happy and cheerful after visiting. While my methods of observation have been less than scientific, they seem to agree with science. As there are many different conditions and situations that could be addressed with different forms of therapy, I think it is important we look at all the different forms. Before senior project had started, I had always been intrigued with learning more about the benefits of service animals, and after my research today, I am convinced of the benefits.
Sources
What exactly are therapy animals? What do they do?
They are animals that have been screened and undergone behavioral training, but are not truly considered service animals. This is because they exist just to provide comfort (As opposed to doing any specific tasks as classified under the Americans with Disabilities Act) (3). This is an important distinction because the owners are therefore not covered under many laws (although some states have protective laws in place). While commonly dogs, they can be rabbits, cats, and other species (providing they have the right temperament). They are screened for their positive ability to interact with humans, other animals, and the world around them. Additionally, they must not shed a lot, be well and even tempered, be well socialized/exposed to many different environments, love working with people, and love cheering people up. Their primary purpose is to produce comfort, a sense of security, and affection. They are used in nursing homes, hospitals, schools, disaster areas and more. They tend to be privately owned, and visit locations on a regular, recurring basis. While the animal is important, so are their handlers. The owners are the care takers, and are responsible for bring up a responsible therapy animal. There are three types - 1) Facility Therapy Animal, 2) Animal Assisted Therapy Animal, and 3) Therapeutic Visitation Animals. Facility Therapy Animals work primary with people with Alzheimers and dementia, although they can work with any patents with mental illness. They typically work in nursing homes (where they live), and work to keep patients out of trouble. Animal Assisted Therapy Animals assist physical and occupational therapists reach their goals and assist in patient recovery. They usually work in rehabilitation facilities and help people with a variety of tasks, such as regaining motion. Therapeutic Visitation Animals are the most common type. They are household pets whose owners take them to different facilities (like schools, hospitals etc). They help people who are away from home due to medical/law issues (such as mental and physical illness), and can hep ease separation anxiety between people and their own pets they are separated from. (1) (4)
Service Animals
Service animals are those that benefit specific individuals. According to the American's with Disabilities website, "The ADA defines a service animal as any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. If they meet this definition, animals are considered service animals under the ADA regardless of whether they have been licensed or certified by a state or local government. (2)" Service animals perform tasks that individuals cannot, and are trained to do so. The third source, which can be found here, answers many questions about service animals, with special regards to dogs. (2) (3) (4)
Importance to Real Life (Including my Project)
While perhaps not the most reputable of sources, ServiceDogCentral.org describes service and therapy animals as "providing therapeutic support to a disabled or elderly owner through companionship, non-judgmental positive regard, affection, and a focus in life." There are studies done - such as this one about service animals and PTSD published by the government and this more general one focusing on mental illness (also government sponsored - show the positive effects. From what I have seen so far at my internship at KitTea, people seem more happy and cheerful after visiting. While my methods of observation have been less than scientific, they seem to agree with science. As there are many different conditions and situations that could be addressed with different forms of therapy, I think it is important we look at all the different forms. Before senior project had started, I had always been intrigued with learning more about the benefits of service animals, and after my research today, I am convinced of the benefits.
Sources
- https://www.nsarco.com/therapy-animal-info.html
- https://www.ada.gov/archive/qasrvc.htm
- https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/service_animal_qa.html
- https://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/treatment/cope/dogs_and_ptsd.asp
- http://servicedogcentral.org/content/ESA
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2854030/
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