Animal Assisted Therapy Imagine you have been ill, living in a facility for months. You may have pets, you may not, but living in a sterile facility you would long for anything that reminds you of the outside world. Anything that brings in the energy and freedom of the outside world. That’s when you see bounding down the hall towards you a great big Labrador retriever dog. Face covered with slobber, he runs to you, tail wagging and licks your face. Or someone brings to your bedside an adorable puppy wriggling around in your arms. Either scenario would fill you with love, energy and happiness, a distraction from your current emotional state. Either would be highly therapeutic, and that is what Animal Therapy is, therapeutic. Overview Animal or pet therapy is the therapeutic use of bringing an animal (mainly dogs and cats), into a health care facility with the intent of healing the patients involved emotionally. This approach provides a healthy distraction, formation of relationships and allows the individual to experience unconditional love. According to the St.Johns of Canada website this approach is the use of petting, affection and regular use of visiting with the therapy dogs. While allowing the clients to find peace in gentle contact with the dog in its quiet presence. They also state the impact of animal therapy impact the patients quality of life by increasing their ability to eat and sleep, be social and participate in activities. Pet therapy began in the 1970’s, but as the therapeutic use of animal visiting grew they changed the terms to “animal therapy” as they found “pet therapy” to be to limiting. Definitions of animal therapy are: “Animal- Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a goal-directed intervention in which an animal meeting specific criteria is and intergral part of the treatment process. AAT is delivered and/or directed by health/human services provider working within the scope of his or her profession. AAT is designed to promote improvement in human...