anthrozoology.org

Cirulli, F.; Alleva, E.;

Rapporti ISTISAN - Istituto Superiore di Sanita. Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Roma, Italy: 2007. 07/35, 38 pp.

The use of animals as therapists dates back to ancient times and is gaining more and more importance. The modern term "Pet Therapy" refers to the use of pet animals in the cure of specific disorders. These activities are highly heterogeneous, both in terms of the professional careers of the operators, of the typology of patients and the modalities of intervention used. The increasing interest in Pet Therapy, and the lack of an ad hoc legislation, that might formally regulate the therapies performed with animals, has raised the need to document the activities that are being undertaken in Italy under this label. We present in this report some data concerning activities and therapies preformed in Italy with the assistance of animals. Ethical issues are discussed and guidelines suggested to ensure health and welfare of all subjects participating in these programs.