A visitation program occurs when animals, that have been carefully screened and trained, accompany their owners to a facility and visit with the patients. The main goal of this type program is socialization. On the other hand, an Animal Assisted Therapy program uses animals that have been temperament tested, given a complete veterinary check-up, received obedience training and have passed a probationary period in the facility. These animals are used by therapists in goal directed treatment sessions as a modality to facilitate patient's towards optimum performance. This unique approach has promoted social, physical, emotional, and cognitive improvement in a varied population including students who have Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, and hearing and visual impairments.
Many programs incorporate horses, visiting dogs, classroom cats, birds, and fish.
Those kids need to be loved, respected, useful, needed, accepted, and trusted. As any pet owner knows, caring and interacting with animals is an ideal way to do this. Being involved with animals helps the children build their strengths. The children are involved in activities such as throwing objects for the dog to retrieve, maneuvering the dog using a leash, brushing him, and petting and stroking the dog. These activities improve balance, mobility, coordination, self-control, and speech and communication development.