2010 UAA 1
Animals in our lives
Susan J. Modlin, PhD, RN
Associate Professor, Nursing
University of Alaska, Anchorage
Purpose
To Define human animal bond
To Discuss research related to the human animal bond
To Discuss therapy animals and service dogs
Human animal bond Petting, touching and talking with animals,
lowers blood pressure
relieves stress and
eases depression
A therapy horse works directly with people of all ages to promote growth and healing emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually
Human animal bond
in a medium security prison a pet therapy program decreased the depression among the inmates, AND the rates of aggression decreased as well
Often elderly persons are socially isolated, and the animal is the only friend or companion with whom that person maintains regular contact
What do we know about the human animal bond?
Health Benefits of pets widely recognized
–Increased survival after MI (Friedmann, et al., 1980)
–Decreased MD visits in elderly (Siegel, 1990)
–Decreased BP and Decreased anxiety (Vormbrock and Grossberg, 1989)
Animal Assisted Therapy
Usually in an institution
Usually as recovery or rehabilitation
Therapist Led
Delta Society Pet Partners
Learn the skills needed to visit safely with your animal in hospitals, nursing homes, classrooms, and other facilities. Topics include:
●How to tell if both you and your animal are a good fit for Pet Partners.
●Identifying and decreasing stress in your animal.
●Animal health and safety.
●How to interact with different types of people.
●Facility health and safety codes.
●Patient confidentiality.
Animal Assisted Activity
Volunteer brings their trained and registered pet into a facility (e.g. library, hospital, school)
Misnomer as “pet therapy”
Recreation/relaxation/diversion
Educational activities such as READ
Surgical Waiting room
Service dog
is defined by the ADA (The Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990) as “any animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability.”
What is a service dog??
A service dog as defined by the ADA (1990)
–Accompanies people with physical or mobility impairments OR people with a mental/emotional disability (i.e., autism, panic disorder, agoraphobia)
–Or Assists people who are deaf
–Or Acts as a seizure alert dog
– May be a guide dog for the blind (although usually separate category)
– IS NOT “Just” a pet or companion
–IS NOT Pet therapy
“Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced”
Living with a service dog
Others viewed the participants differently when they were accompanied by the service dog,
The participants felt differently about themselves when accompanied by the service dog
ETIQUETTE
regarding working dogs
ALWAYS TALK to the HANDLER,
not the dog.
NEVER GRAB a dog’s harness/leash/ or a person’s wheelchair
RESOURCES
Certified Therapy Horse Association
A therapy horse is a professional who works directly with people of all ages to promote growth and healing emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually.
UC Davis School of Vet Med
PurdueUniversitySchool of Vet Med
CDC Healthy People Healthy Pets
Disaster Preparedness from the American Veterinary Medical Association
The Delta Society
The society's Resource Library, which is open to the public, includes books, audiovisuals, and an article reprint file, including newspaper and general interest clippings. Delta's publications program includes: Learning in dogs : the principles of canine behavior and learning : implications for training; Service dog directory : a listing of training centers; Directory of pet loss resources; Handbook for animal-assisted activities and animal-assisted therapy; Pet Partners volunteer training manual; a video Pet bereavement : a time for sorrow; and Guidelines : animals in nursing homes.
Intermountain Therapy Animals, Salt Lake City, UT
Bibliography
ADA technical assistance bulletin (1996). Commonly asked questions about service animals in places of business. [On-line]. Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Public Law 101-336.
Barker, S. B., Rogers, C. S.,Turner, J. W.,Karpf, A. S., & Suthers-McCabe, H. M. (2003). Benefits of interacting with companion animals. The American Behavioral Scientist, 47(1), 94-99
Duncan, S. L. (2000). APIC state-of-the-art report: The implications of service animals in health care settings. American Journal of Infection Control, 28, 170-180.
Friedmann, E., Katcher, A. & Lynch, J. (1980). Animal companions and one-year survival rates of patients after discharge from a coronary care unit. Public Health Reports, 95, 4.
Kaiser, L. Spence, L. J. Lavergne, A. G., Vanden Bosch, K. L.Can a week of Therapeutic riding make a difference?--A pilot study.Anthrozoos.2004. 17(1): 63-72.
MacKinnon, J. R., Noh, S. and Laliberte, D.Therapeutic horseback riding: A review of the literature.Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics.1995.15: 1-15.
Mallon, G. P. Utilization of animals as therapeutic adjuncts with children and youth: a review of the literature. Child and Youth Care Forum. 1992. 21(1): 53-67.
Martin F, Farnum J. Animal-assisted therapy for children with pervasive developmental disorders. West J Nurse Res. 2002. 24(6):657-70.
Modlin, S.J. (2000). Service dogs as Interventions: State of the Science. Rehabilitation Nursing, 25, 212-219.
Modlin, S. J. (2001). From puppy to service dog: Raising service dogs for the rehabilitation team. Rehabilitation Nursing, 26, 12-17.
Sachs-Ericsson, N., Hansen, N. K., & Fitzgerald, S. (2002). Benefits of assistance dogs: A review. Rehabilitation Psychology, 47, 251-277.
Siegel, J. (1990) Stressful life events and use of physician services among the elderly: The moderating role of pet ownership. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 58, 1081-1086.
Siegel, J. (1993). Companion Animals: In sickness and in health.Journal of Social Issues. 49, 157-167.