Regarded as a casual recreational activity only a decade ago, animal-assisted therapy is today a respected therapeutic intervention. Holding, petting and simple grooming tasks can enhance motor skills lost through injury, disease or the aging process, said Dianna Harrison, a recreation therapist on Stanford's skilled nursing unit. In addition, pet interaction decreases anxiety levels, increases self-esteem and reduces blood pressure, she said. Studies elsewhere have shown that patients rely on less pain medication when animals are around, noted Case. She and Souza believe pet-assisted therapy is particularly good for psychiatry patients, motivating them to socialize and interact.
Hospitals can seem like sterile and lonely places.
Interactions with animals help put people back in touch with the caring, loving parts of themselves, said Grosvenor. Patients who spend much of their time feeling anxious and asocial tend to relax and interact when animals come to visit. Grosvenor has observed that the patients are much more likely to cooperate with others, ask relevant questions and tell stories about their own experiences with animals and their lives in general all factors that mitigate loneliness and enhance the healing process, she said. PAWS visits are supervised by the occupational therapy staff associated with the hospital unit sponsoring the animal therapy. Each animal then receives extensive behavioral testing and further health screenings before going on the hospital visits.