Animal Assisted Activities (AAA)

Welfare in a shelter dog rehomed with Alzheimer patients

anthrozoology — Mon, 12 May 2008 20:49:25 -0400

Journal of Veterinary Behaviour: Clinical Applications and Research

Volume 3, Issue 2, Pages 87-94 (March 2008)

Elisabetta Piva, DVMab, Valentina Liverani, DVMc, Pier Attilio Accorsi, DVMd, Giuseppe Sarli, DVMe, Gualtiero Gandini, DVMf

This study evaluates whether a shelter dog could be rehomed successfully into a facility for people suffering from Alzheimer's disease (AD). The goal was to assess the effect on animal welfare of this form of pet ownership and of individual sessions of animal assisted activity (AAA) with some pre-selected patients. After the enrollment of a suitable shelter dog, the dog was introduced gradually into the facility. Upon adoption, the dog's welfare was monitored during the first 6 months by integrating indirect assessment (18-item questionnaire) with direct observations of behavioral and clinical responses (31-item score system table), and with an assay of hormonal changes. Only descriptive statistics were done on the questionnaire data. The findings suggest a progressive positive integration into the new environment. The qualitative data using direct observations were analyzed with the Spearman Rank order correlation test. Some data showed significant variation during the period of observation, suggesting a gradual reduction of the dog's stress during AAA sessions. The hormonal trend, especially for cortisol measured in hair, seemed to correlate with the clinical and behavioral findings.

Pet therapy effects on oncological day hospital patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

anthrozoology — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 23:58:09 -0400

Orlandi, M.; Trangeled, K.; Mambrini, A.; Tagliani, M.; Ferrarini, A.; Zanetti, L.; Tartarini, R.; Pacetti, P.; Cantore, M.;

Anticancer Research. International Institute of Anticancer Research, Attiki, Greece: 2007. 27: 6C, 4301-4304.

Background: Pet therapy is utilised to improve the quality of life of patients with chronic diseases. The impact of AAA (animal-assisted activities), a kind of pet therapy, on oncological patients submitted to chemotherapy was evaluated. Patients and Methods: Two groups of patients receiving chemotherapy with (experimental group) or without AAA (control group) were compared. The 2 participating dogs have been trained by a cynophilist behaviourist and examined by a veterinarian. Before and after chemotherapy both groups of patients were asked to fill out a A.De.Ss.O. test questionnaire, a simplified Italian version of Kellner's Symptom Questionnaire. Arterial blood pressure, heart rate and arterial oxygen saturation were recorded. Results: Depression improved only in the AAA group (p=0.01). Arterial oxygen saturation increased in the experimental group (p=0.004), while it decreased in the controls. Conclusion: AAA during chemotherapy reduces depression of patients and increases their arterial oxygen saturation.

Do animal-assisted activities effectively treat depression? A meta-analysis.

anthrozoology — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 19:04:36 -0400

Souter, M. A.; Miller, M. D.;

Anthrozoos. 2007. 20: 2, 167-180.

We conducted a meta-analysis to determine the effectiveness of animal-assisted activities (AAA) and animal-assisted therapy (AAT) for reducing depressive symptoms in humans. To be included in the meta-analysis, studies had to demonstrate random assignment, include a comparison/control group, use AAA or AAT, use a self-report measure of depression, and report sufficient information to calculate effect sizes, a statistical standardization of the strength of a treatment effect. Five studies were identified for analysis. The aggregate effect size for these studies was of medium magnitude and statistically significant, indicating that AAA/AAT are associated with fewer depressive symptoms. This analysis revealed gaps in the research on AAA/AAT, which we attempted to identify in order to better understand the factors that make AAA and AAT effective at reducing depression.

Do Animal-Assisted Activities Effectively Treat Depression? A Meta-Analysis

anthrozoology — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 19:44:49 -0400

Souter, Megan A.; Miller, Michelle D.

Anthrozoos: 20, 2, 2007 , pp. 167-180(14)

Do disrupted early attachments affect the relationship between guide dogs and blind owners?

anthrozoology — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 16:57:14 -0500

Fallani, G.; Previde, E. P.; Valsecchi, P.;

Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 2006. 100: 3/4, 241-257.

The study investigated the affectional bond developed by dogs (Canis familiaris) towards their human companions during the selection process to become guide dogs and compared this bond with that formed by pet dogs with their owners. One hundred and nine dog-owner pairs were tested using a modified version of the Strange Situation Test: custody dogs-puppy walkers (n=34), apprentice dogs-trainers (n=26), guide dogs-blind owners (n=25) and pet dogs-owners (n=24). Twenty-six behaviours were scored using a 5 s point sampling method and two vocal behaviours were recorded as bouts. Factor analysis carried out on 24 mutually exclusive behaviours highlighted two different profiles of response. A relaxed reaction characterised by a high play activity was distinctive of custody and apprentice dogs, whereas an anxious reaction characterised by a high degree of proximity seeking behaviours was distinctive of pet dogs. Guide dogs were intermediate between these two extremes, expressing their attachment to the owners but showing a more controlled emotional reaction. This finding suggests that guide dogs can be viewed as "working pets". Furthermore, the experimental set-up, characterised by the presence of a frightening stimulus, revealed that untrained dogs (pets and custody dogs) were more fearful than trained dogs (guide dogs and apprentice dogs). Finally, differences in temperament emerged between retrievers: Golden retrievers showed a higher level of affection demand while Labrador retrievers were more playful. Overall, these findings show that in spite of separations from previous attachment figures, guide dogs established with their blind owner a rather good and secure affectional bond.

The value of service dogs for people with severe ambulatory disabilities. A randomized controlled trial.

anthrozoology — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 18:41:39 -0500

Allen, K., and J. Blascovich,

1996,

JAMA, v. 275, p. 1001-6.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of service dogs for people with ambulatory disabilities. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled clinical trial. SETTING: Environments of study participants.

PARTICIPANTS: Forty-eight individuals with severe and chronic ambulatory disabilities requiring use of wheelchairs who were recruited from advocacy and support groups for persons with muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury. Participants were matched on age, sex, marital status, race, and the nature and severity of the disability in order to create 24 pairs. Within each pair, participants were randomly assigned to either the experimental group or a wait-list control group.

The effects of service dogs on social acknowledgments of people in wheelchairs

anthrozoology — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 22:10:59 -0500

Eddy, J., L. A. Hart, et al.

Journal of Psychology 122(1): 39-45, (1988)

Able-bodied people often exhibit behaviors that show them to be socially uncomfortable upon encountering a physically disabled stranger. These behaviors include less eye contact, gaze avoidance, greater personal distance, and briefer social interactions. This study examined whether persons in wheelchairs with service dogs receive more frequent social acknowledgement from able-bodied strangers than people in wheelchairs without dogs receive. Behaviors of passersby were recorded by an observer who followed a person in a wheelchair at a distance of 15 to 30 feet. Observations were made in public areas amid pedestrian traffic, areas such as shopping malls and a college campus. The behaviors of passersby to the person in a wheelchair, with or without a service dog, were recorded, including smiles, conversation, touch, gaze aversion, path avoidance, or no response. Results indicated that both smiles and conversations from passersby increased significantly when the dogs were present. These findings suggest that the benefits of service dogs for their owners extend beyond working tasks to include enhanced opportunities for social exchange. The service dogs substantially reduced the tendency of able-bodied people to ignore or avoid the disabled person.