Anyone that has ever had a pet knows the amazing love and devotion animals can show the people around them. That is why animal therapy which uses animals to help people with debilitating diseases has become so popular. While animal therapy is a new term animals have always given comfort to those in need and recently it has become apparent that animals can help a great number of people.
The actually history of how animal assisted therapy became recognized by the medical establishment varies but one story comes up time and time again. During World War II, a corporal in the United States army was in recovering in an army hospital when his friend decided to cheer him up by bringing his female Yorkshire terrier named Smokey to see him. His doctor at the time, Dr. Charles Mayo later of the famed Mayo clinic, realized how much of a positive effect the dog was having not only the corporal but the other soldiers in the ward. This led him to persuade the corporal to let him take Smokey on his rounds. This is how Smokey became the first therapy dog. Smokey continued to be a therapy for the next twelve years. To this day the Mayo Clinic is an advocate for animal assisted therapy. When asked why they stated because it works.
It seems animal therapy has an extremely miraculous effect on children with autism. When autistic children are introduced into animal assisted therapy their responses include increased verbal communication and an increase in concentration levels. Children who had previously resorted to tantrums and isolation began to better understand their surroundings and the needs of others. When introduced to animals autistic children’s blood pressure tend to lower and also certain child who often displayed violent tendencies would become extremely maternal taking care to feed and groom the animal.
Today all kinds of animals are used in therapy ranging from horses to dogs to elephants. While there are skeptics, the effect animals have on the human spirit cannot be disputed. Regardless of it can be documented animal assisted therapy is a discipline that will surely stand the test of time and science.
Sumber: http://www.iapsrs.org
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