The View from All Fours: A Look at an Animal-Assisted Activity Program from the Animals' Perspective
Author: Hatch, Alison
Source: Anthrozoos: A Multidisciplinary Journal of The Interactions of People & Animals, Volume 20, Number 1, March 2007 , pp. 37-50(14)
Publisher: Berg Publishers
Key:
- Free Content
- New Content
- Subscribed Content
- Free Trial Content
- Free Content
- New Content
- Subscribed Content
- Free Trial Content
Abstract:
In recent decades, animal-assisted therapy (AAT) and animal-assisted activity (AAA) programs have gained in popularity. A growing literature documents the benefits of AAT/AAA for humans. The prevalent perspective for AAT/AAA research is "what can non-human animals do for us?" with no apparent consideration to what such programs may do for, or to, the animals involved. Ample research reveals that animals are minded actors with the capacity to feel complex emotions. Consequently, AAT/AAA programs should benefit the animals as well as the humans involved. Based on interviews with human volunteers in an animal shelter's AAA program and participant observation in the same program, this paper investigates the animals' experience in AAA. Specifically, this study discusses the use of shelter animals as "volunteer therapists" and concludes that AAT/AAA programs raise numerous concerns for the animals involved. These findings indicate the need for more attention to the experience of animals in AAT/AAA programs.Keywords: ANIMAL-ASSISTED ACTIVITIES; ANIMAL-ASSISTED THERAPY; ANIMAL WELFARE; SHELTER ANIMALS
Document Type: Review article
DOI: 10.2752/089279307780216632
Key:
- Free Content
- New Content
- Subscribed Content
- Free Trial Content
- Free Content
- New Content
- Subscribed Content
- Free Trial Content
Click here for Page Help