|
| |
More Research and Resources on Preventing
Youth Violence
and the Benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy
 |
Pets decrease feeling of loneliness and
isolation (Kidd, 1994). |
|
Children exposed to humane education
programs display enhanced empathy for humans compared with children not
exposed to such programs. (Ascione, 1992). |
|
Positive self-esteem of children is
enhanced by owning a pet. (Bergensen, 1989). |
|
Children's cognitive development can be
enhanced by owning a pet. (Poresky, 1988). |
|
70% of families surveyed reported an
increase in family happiness and fun subsequent to pet acquisition. (Cain,
1985). |
|
The presence of a dog during a child's
physical examination decreases their stress. (Nadgengast, 1997, Baun,
1998). |
|
Children owning pets are more involved in
activities such as sports, hobbies, clubs or chores. (Melson, 1990).
|
|
Children exposed to pets during the first
year of life have a lower frequency of allergic rhintis and asthma. (Hesselmar,
1999). |
|
Children with autism have more prosocial
behaviors less autistic behaviors such as self-absorption. (Redefer,
1989). |
|
Children who own pets score significantly
higher on empathy and prosocial orientation scales than non-owners. (Vidovic,
1999). |
The
Healthy Pleasure of Their Company: Companion Animals and Human Health
Karen Allen, School of Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo
Companion Animals as
Social Facilitators
Although some pet owners are
happy and fulfilled alone with their pets, other pet owners find their
companion animals are important in helping them meet and interact with other
people. Certainly meeting other people is a precursor to developing
relationships that can grow into meaningful, health-enhancing, social
support, and several studies have focused on the role of pets as social
facilitators. For example, Hunt, Hart, & Gomulkiewicz (1992) explored the
role of small animals (rabbit and turtle) in social interactions between
strangers in a park. This study found that in a community setting, without
special effort or obvious need on the part of the experimenter, the presence
of small animals initiated approaches to their owners by unfamiliar children
and adults and conversations between them.
In a related ethnographic
study Robins, Sanders, & Cahill (1991) looked at the dynamics of inclusion
among dog owners in a public park. The authors conclude that dogs expose
their owners to encounters with strangers, facilitate interaction among
individuals previously unacquainted, and help establish trust among the
newly acquainted. Dogs, then, can be an antidote for the human anonymity
often found in contemporary society, and can help build friendships. One
explanation for such behavior is that civil inattention is breached when
there is some obvious similarity between individuals. A logical extension of
this is that even people who are dissimilar in race, education, or
socioeconomic status can find common ground for understanding and relying on
each other.
Conclusions
In recent decades a wealth of
information has been gathered in support of the value of companion animals
to human health. Although much of the evidence is correlational, some
studies have begun to use more rigorous experimental design and theory
testing, and have increased understanding of the meaning and value of pets
in our lives. In the current environment for research funding, the
interdisciplinary nature of research about health effects of the
human-animal bond is one of its strongest points and should be encouraged.
Clearly what is needed is a synthesis of the best theoretical approaches
from nursing, medicine, psychology, anthropology, physiology, and other
health-related professions. Together we can achieve far more than the sum of
our individual efforts, and dramatically increase our understanding and
appreciation of our relationships with animals.
The
Healthy Pleasure of Their Company: Companion Animals and Human Health
Karen Allen, School of Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo
-
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-
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Baun, M.M., Oetting, K., & Bergstrom, N.
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-
Cain, A.O. (1985). Pets as family
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-
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Ferguson, C. (personal communucation,
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-
Fick, K. (1993). The influence of an
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setting. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 47, 529-534.
-
Fritz, C.L., Farver, T.B., Hart, L.A., &
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Hendy, H.M. (1987). Effects of pet and/or
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-
Hunt, S.J., Hart, L.A., & Gomulkiewicz ,
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-
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-
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Kidd, A.H. & Kidd, R.M. (1994). Benefits
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-
Lago, D., Delaney, M., Miller, M., &
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-
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-
Manuck, S.B. & Krantz, D.S. (1986).
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-
Nathanson, D.E. & de Faria, S. (1993).
Cognitive improvement of children in water with and without dolphins.
Anthrozoös, 6, 17-29.
-
Peretti, P.O. (1990). Elderly-animal
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-
Redefer, L.A. & Goodman, J.F. (1989).
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of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 19, 461-467.
-
Robins, D.M., Sanders, C.R., & Cahill,
S.E. (1991). Dogs and their people. Journal of Contemporary Ethnography,
20, 3-25.
-
Serpell, J. (1991). Beneficial effects of
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-
Singer, R.S., Hart, L.A., & Zasloff, R.L.
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-
Siegel, J.M. (1990). Stressful life
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58, 1081-1086.
-
Siegel, J.M., Angulo, F.J., Detels, R.,
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Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study: The ameliorating impact of pet ownership.
AIDS Care, 11 (2), 157-169.
-
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-
Spencer, L. (1992). Pets prove
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Medical Association, 201(11), 1665-1669.
-
Thomas, W.H. (1994). The Eden
Alternative: Nature, Hope, and Nursing Homes. Sherburne, New York:
Eden Alternative Foundation.
-
Valentine, D.P., Kiddoo, M., & LaFleur,
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who have mobility or hearing impairments. Social Work in Health Care,
19, 109-125.
-
Voith, V. L. (1985). Attachment of people
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-
Wille, R. (1984). Therapeutic use of
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-
Winkler, A., Fairnie, H., Gericevich,
F., & Long, M. (1989). The impact of a resident dog on an institution
for the elderly: Effects on perceptions and social interactions. The
Gerontologist, 29, 216-223.
Health Benefits of Animals
Bibliography
Abstracts or copies of
several of the articles listed below are available within the
Health Benefits of Animals section of this web site.
|
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|
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Compassion: Our Last Great Hope to your shopping cart
[$12.00].) |
|
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|
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|
|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
|
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|
Siegel, J.M., Angulo, F.J., Detels, R.,.
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|
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|
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|
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|
|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
Compassion: Our Last Great
Hope
Selected
Speeches of Leo K. Bustad, DVM, PhD
by Leo K. Bustad, Cynthia (Sunny) J. Freyer (Editor)
Leo K. Bustad, DVM, PhD,
co-founder of Delta Society and past Dean of the School of Veterinary
Medicine at Washington State University, gave numerous speeches related to
the human-animal bond. In response to requests, some of these and other
speeches have been published in this book.
Animals in the Classroom
A compilation of articles,
conference abstracts, and resource information about animals in education.
·
Price:
$25.00.
·
Type:
Book.
·
Physical Description:
8.5" x 10.75"; Softcover; 234 pages; 1999.
Detailed Description
List of Contents
Curricula
|
A Classroom Canine Companion Opens Doors
to Learning, A Resource Manual.
|
|
AH-HA! The Animal Human Happy Adventure:
A Winning Education Team.
|
|
Learning and Living Together, Building
the Human-Animal Bond Handbook
Brochure. |
|
Pet Partners in the Classroom.
|
|
Tips to Help You Teach Humaneness.
|
Articles
|
Animal Assisted Activities/Therapy in the
School & Working with Children.
|
|
The Human Companion Animal Bond and the
Elementary School Counselor.
|
|
Animals Are Helping Children Overcome
Physical and Emotional Challenges.
|
|
Pets at School, Child-Animal Bond Sparks
Learning and Caring.
|
|
Therapy Dog in the Classroom.
|
|
Therapy Dogs A Boon to Special Ed Class.
|
|
How Some Kids Gain Success, Self-esteem
with Animals. |
|
Animals Bridge the Generation Gap.
|
|
Enhancing Children's Attitudes About the
Humane Treatment of Animals: Generalization to Human-Directed Empathy.
|
|
Children's Attitudes About the Humane
Treatment of Animals and Empathy: One Year Follow Up of a School-Based
Intervention. |
|
Companion Animals and Other Factors
Affecting Young Children's Development.
|
|
Environmental Education, Children and
Animals. |
|
Fostering Inter-Connectedness with
Animals and Nature: The Developmental Benefits for Children.
|
|
The Behavior of Children with Severe
Learning Difficulties During Animal-Assisted Therapy.
Abstract from the 7th International conference on Human-Animal
Interactions, Animals, Health and Quality of Life, Geneva, Switzerland,
September 6-9, 1995. |
|
Building Resiliency Skills in Children.
1997 Delta Society Conference Presentation, Atlanta, GA, October 17-19,
1998. |
|
Using AAT to Meet the Educational Goals
of Special Education Students in the Public School System.
1997 Delta Society Conference Presentation, Atlanta, GA, October 17-19,
1998. |
|
The ABC's of Animal-Assisted Education.
1997 Delta Society Conference Presentation, Atlanta, GA, October 17-19,
1998. |
|
We All Speak the Same Language When It
comes to Animal-Assisted Therapy.
1997 Delta Society Conference Presentation, Atlanta, GA, October 17-19,
1998. |
Guidelines for Classroom
Animals
|
Guidelines for the Care and Handling of
Classroom Pets.
|
Critters in the Classroom? Guidelines for the Selection, Care, and
Handling of Classroom Pets. Marin Humane Society, Novato, CA, 1989.
|
|
******************************************* |
|
The Link Between Violence Against
Animals and Violence Against Humans
Beyond Violence is a project of PSYETA
working in partnership with the
Doris Day Animal Foundation
"Beyond Violence" is a PSYETA project offering products addressing
a serious societal problem.
In 1999, we all witnessed the most
horrific case of school violence in U.S. history when Eric Harris and
Dylan Klebold of Littleton, Colorado killed fourteen of their
classmates and one teacher at Columbine High School. Scores more were
wounded. Both young men had spoken of mutilating animals and
expressed interest in occult rituals.1998 had also been a year for
notorious crimes committed by young people with prior histories of
animal abuse, and 2001 has started with its own atrocities of
violence.
The body counts for the seven months
from October of 1997 to May of 1998 were twelve dead and forty-four
wounded in four schools in  Springfield,
Oregon; Jonesboro, Arkansas; Pearl, Mississippi, and West Paducah,
Kentucky. Prior to the school shootings, Kip Kinkel decapitated cats,
dissected live squirrels and blew up cows; Andrew Golden shot dogs
before he turned his guns on his classmates; Luke Woodham beat and
burned his own dog, Sparkle, describing his dog's painful and tortured
death as a "thing of true beauty;" and Michael Carneal threw a cat
into a bonfire.
It isn't just youthful offenders who
move from animal abuse to violence toward humans. Russell Weston Jr.,
the man who is awaiting trial for shooting two Capitol Hill police
officers, shot his father's cats before his assault on the Capitol.
Animal abuse doesn't occur in
isolation; rather, it takes place in a complex net of disturbed family
relations. For example, animal abuse is frequently found in families
where there also is child abuse and domestic violence. Children in
these disturbed families who witness the abuse of family companion
animals are more likely to abuse animals; in addition, children who
commit animal cruelty are more likely to engage in criminal behavior
as adults.
We also see a close link between
domestic violence and animal abuse. In one national survey of women
seeking shelter from domestic violence in safe houses, 83% of women
with companion animals reported that their batterers had also hurt or
threatened the family pet.
PSYETA's "Beyond Violence" Project
is more than a video.
Partnered with the Doris Day Animal
Foundation, PSYETA has produced several products that are now
available:
|
"Beyond Violence: The Human-Animal
Connection" Video and Discussion Guide
(in both English and Spanish language versions.) |
|
AniCare Child: an Assessment and Treatment Approach for
Childhood Animal Abuse -
the first published treatment
approach to focus exclusively on juvenile cruelty to animals.
|
|
"The Violence Connection: An
Examination of the Link Between Animal Abuse and other Violent
Crimes," a free booklet for judges, prosecutors, and other legal
and human service professionals. |
The Video and Discussion Guide
With "Beyond Violence" we hope to stimulate discussions among mental
health professionals, parents, teachers, law enforcement officials,
and religious leaders about the human-animal relationship, and the
importance of that relationship in advancing beyond violence. The
video does more than examine the link between animal abuse and human
violence. It also depicts the many ways in which animals foster and
support human development--a relationship with an animal can help an
individual heal from emotional injury, promote emotional development,
teach us about compassion and caring, and engender a sense of ethics
and responsibility.
The Spanish language version of the
video is now available!
The AniCare Model of Treatment
for Animal Abuse
The AniCare Model of Treatment for Animal Abuse is a
first-of-its-kind counseling intervention program, designed as a
training manual for mental health professionals. AniCare is
based on a successful approach to treating spouse batterers that has
been found to be the most effective for this related population.
Click for more about The AniCare Model!
NEW -
AniCare Child: an Assessment and
Treatment Approach for Childhood Animal Abuse
AniCare Child is the first published treatment approach to
focus exclusively on juvenile cruelty to animals. The 90 page
practitioner's handbook provides comprehensive strategies and
practical suggestions for assessing and treating childhood animal
abuse. AniCare Child can be used as the primary treatment focus
or as an ancillary treatment.
Click for more information about AniCare Child, or to place an order.
The Violence Connection: An
Examination of the Link Between Animal Abuse and Other Violent Crimes
This is the Doris Day Animal League publication which provides
detailed information to judges, prosecutors, and other law enforcement
officials about the link between animal abuse and human violence.
It lists the various resources that are available to law enforcement
on this topic, and stresses the importance of treating animal abuse as
a serious crime. It is available free of charge from PSYETA.
PSYETA can help you help animals.
·
PSYETA maintains a speaker's bureau of professionals who can
address your particular audience on the violence connection and
related topics.
·
PSYETA offers training workshops for mental health
professionals on the AniCare Model of Treatment for Animal Abuse.
If you would like assistance in setting up a workshop where you live,
contact us at PSYETA for professional resources and guidance.
·
PSYETA also has an inventory of references on the subject of
the human-animal relationship. At your request, we can either send,
or suggest, publications or bibliographies on a variety of topic
areas-for example, the relationship of animal abuse to human violence;
the effectiveness of animal models for understanding human psychology;
and the spiritual aspects of the human-animal relationship.
PSYETA sends its project directors around the nation conducting
training sessions
with mental health professionals, parents, teachers, and law
enforcement groups and
giving presentations to raise awareness about the "violence
connection." |
A project of the Doris Day Animal Foundation
(DDAF)
and Psychologists for the Ethical Treatment
of Animals (PSYETA)
 What
is AniCare Child?
AniCare Child is the first published treatment approach to focus
exclusively on juvenile cruelty to animals. The 90 page practitioner's
handbook provides comprehensive strategies and practical suggestions for
assessing and treating childhood animal abuse. AniCare Child can be
used as the primary treatment focus or as an ancillary treatment. (Note that
PSYETA also has available The AniCare Model aimed at treating
animal abusers over the age of 17.
Please click here for more information).
What
does the AniCare Child model involve?
Encompassing a number of theoretical perspectives - cognitive-behavioral,
attachment theory, and psychodynamic, AniCare Child provides detailed
and practical suggestions for assessment and treatment. It describes four
basic steps in making as assessment and enumerates the factors to consider
The three therapeutic tasks of treatment -
connection, expression, and corrective intervention - organize the approach
to treatment. Clinical case examples, a variety of exercises, and other
tools, such as use of projective material and puppet role play, are
presented. AniCare Child also addresses assessing and treating
children who witness animal abuse and includes a section on "Working with
Parents."
How
was AniCare Child developed?
The development of AniCare Child is based on documented clinical
experience, an examination of effective and reliable treatments for children
that are relevant to this topic, and consultation with and review by
experts.
 Who
can use AniCare Child?
AniCare Child is designed for two audiences: (1) child mental health
professionals working in agencies, domestic violence organizations,
hospitals, schools, and private practice; and (2) other professionals who
work with children and their families - day care providers, social service
workers, probation department and law enforcement officials, teachers,
clergy, animal control and humane society personnel, and veterinarians.
Who
created AniCare Child?
AniCare Child is a joint project of the Doris Day Animal Foundation
(DDAF) and Psychologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PSYETA).
In addition to AniCare Child, PSYETA and DDAF developed The
AniCare Model of Treatment for Animal Abuse - designed to be used with
adults.
How
can I learn to use AniCare Child?
AniCare Child may be used independently by individuals experienced in
working with children. Many people, however, feel better prepared if they
receive training in the use of the AniCare Child approach. Throughout
the year at various locations in the United States, DDAF and PSYETA
will consider requests from interested groups who seek AniCare Child
training. To inquire about or request an AniCare Child training workshop in
your area, please contact
Kenneth J. Shapiro.
 Where
can I order AniCare Child?
AniCare Child can be purchased from PSYETA for $24.95 (in
print or CD-ROM format). The manual can be purchased via
our secure online orders page, by calling PSYETA at 301.963.4751,
or by sending your payment and order to PSYETA at PO Box 1297,
Washington Grove, MD 20880 USA.
For a referral list of mental health
professionals trained in AniCare Child, please contact:
|
Kenneth J. Shapiro,
PhD, ABPP
PSYETA
PO Box 1297
Washington Grove, MD 20880-1297
301.963.4751
kshapiro@psyeta.org |
The AniCare Model
The
First-Ever Psychological Intervention Program
for
Treatment of Animal Abuse
 The
link between animal abuse and violence against humans is increasingly
recognized by mental health professionals, social service workers, parents,
teachers, law enforcement, and the criminal justice system. In our
violence-prevalent society the treatment of animal abusers has therefore
become an increasingly acknowledged necessity, and a growing number of
states are mandating court-enforced psychological counseling for convicted
animal abusers.
"Beyond Violence" is a PSYETA project offering products addressing a
serious societal problem.
In 1999, we
all witnessed the most horrific case of school violence in U.S. history when
Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold of Littleton, Colorado killed fourteen of
their classmates and one teacher at Columbine High School. Scores more were
wounded. Both young men had spoken of mutilating animals and expressed
interest in occult rituals.1998 had also been a year for notorious crimes
committed by young people with prior histories of animal abuse, and 2001 has
started with its own atrocities of violence.
The body
counts for the seven months from October of 1997 to May of 1998 were twelve
dead and forty-four wounded in four schools in  Springfield,
Oregon; Jonesboro, Arkansas; Pearl, Mississippi, and West Paducah, Kentucky.
Prior to the school shootings, Kip Kinkel decapitated cats, dissected live
squirrels and blew up cows; Andrew Golden shot dogs before he turned his
guns on his classmates; Luke Woodham beat and burned his own dog, Sparkle,
describing his dog's painful and tortured death as a "thing of true beauty;"
and Michael Carneal threw a cat into a bonfire.
It isn't just
youthful offenders who move from animal abuse to violence toward humans.
Russell Weston Jr., the man who is awaiting trial for shooting two Capitol
Hill police officers, shot his father's cats before his assault on the
Capitol.
Animal abuse
doesn't occur in isolation; rather, it takes place in a complex net of
disturbed family relations. For example, animal abuse is frequently found
in families where there also is child abuse and domestic violence. Children
in these disturbed families who witness the abuse of family companion
animals are more likely to abuse animals; in addition, children who commit
animal cruelty are more likely to engage in criminal behavior as adults.
We also see a
close link between domestic violence and animal abuse. In one national
survey of women seeking shelter from domestic violence in safe houses, 83%
of women with companion animals reported that their batterers had also hurt
or threatened the family pet.
PSYETA's
"Beyond Violence" Project is more than a video.
|
 |
Vol. 5 No. 3, 1997 |
|
Perceptions of Family Violence:
Are Companion Animals in the Picture?
Carol D. Raupp, Mary Barlow and Judith
A. Oliver1
California State University, Bakersfield
Service and education organizations such as the ASPCA claim a connection
between family violence against children and companion animals, but to
what extent does the general public share this perception? Sixty-three
undergraduates rated their certainty about perceiving family violence
using 60 pictures with differing potential targets of family violence.
Participants showed stronger certainty when the target was a child than
when the target was a companion animal, but ratings for companion
animals averaged above the midpoint of the scale used. Interview
questions were used to obtain information about childhood recoll | | |
