Every year, on the 4th of August, we celebrate Assistance Dog Day. But do you really know what an Assistance Dog is and how is this relevant to mental health? In addition, assistance dogs are an important part of Animal Assisted Interventions in Mental Health and psychology. Read on to know more about it.

Human-Animal Bond

For as long as we have known humans and animals share a good bond with each other. Also, this bond is one of a kind and different from any human bonds. In addition, humans proudly present their pets as members of their family. Hence, all this is a testimonial to the special relations shared between members of two different species and how well they gel with each other.

From being the ones who help humans hunt and survive, many animals have indeed come to contribute towards human wellbeing. Out of all things, humans find a companionship, social support, a hope, source of pleasure and a connection to the outside world in their pet. Over the years, ethologists and psychologists have built up on these findings to give rise to animal assisted interventions.

Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI)

Animal Assisted Interventions are a range of preventive, precautionary, wellness-based, and assistance programs. Above all, these programs build up on the human-animal bond and involve trained animals in the process. In other words, we could also call it as animal or pet therapy.

Why use animals in Therapy?

• Firstly, Animals are able to induce immediate physiological relaxation in humans.

• They help in instant relaxation.

• Additionally, they are capable of reducing stress for people.

• Offer instant help by responding to cues.

• Moreover, they can be trained to call for help for those individuals who manage things alone, for kids not under constant supervision, and for individuals with health issues.

• Moreover, animals can provide social support and keep people away from loneliness.

• Assist people with a physical disability or mental health issue.

• Lastly, trained therapy dogs make the best crisis response, and efficient help seeking.
  

Where all can we implement Animal Assisted Interventions?

AAI can be used in multiple settings including-

• Firstly, Personal household for assisting elderly, kids or persons with disability.

• In schools to teach young children, sex education classes, teaching empathy etc.

• In prisons.

• Hospitals

• Facilities for developmentally disabled

• Old age homes

• Nursing facilities

• Finally, counseling and Therapy centers.
  

Other Animals used in Animal Assisted Interventions

There are different animals that can be used in AAI. For example- 

• Dogs

• Cats

• Horses

• Rabbits

• Hamsters

• Certain Birds

• Aquarium Birds

• Also, some farm Animals

Dogs and Humans

Dogs have been bred so that they can co-exist with us humans. Accordingly, they  have taken up many roles for humans. Previously, there used to be a time when they helped in hunting, guarding and fishing. By all means, even with changing times, dogs still help us guard our homes and they have now even become mans best friends. In addition, dogs are now helping in healthcare and healing as service animals or assistance dogs.

Dogs are amazing readers of behavior. A researcher named Horowitz discusses about the strength of dogs in communicating with humans. Dogs are wired to understand and respond to changes in our expressions, inspect faces for information and other cues of reassurance and guidance. And that could be one reason why the “puppy face” is hard to not fall for!

Assistance Dogs

Assistance dogs are specially get training to help certain people with specific needs. They are popularly helpful for persons with disability. These dogs are trained by expert professionals and receive their certification to be an assistance dog.

Common examples of assistance dogs include: Hearing dogs (for the deaf), guide dogs (for the blind), mental health assistance dogs, mobility assistance dogs, medical assistance dogs, seizure response dogs, autism assistance dogs,  psychiatric assistance dogs. As much fascinating the whole concept sounds it has not been take up due to the expenses involved. For this reason, it never picked pace in India.

Comment and let us know if you like, our blog. We'd also love to hear your thoughts about assistance dogs!

Also, check our post on Instagram about AAI!

References

• Chandler, C. K. (2017). Animal-assisted therapy in counseling. Taylor & Francis.

• Fine, A. H. (2019). Handbook on animal-assisted therapy: Foundations and guidelines for animal-assisted interventions. Academic Press.

• Horowitz, A. (2010). Inside of a dog: What dogs see, smell, and know.

• Simon & Schuster.Serpell, J. (1995). undefined. Cambridge University Press.