Animal Assisted Activities and Animal Assisted Therapy (AAA and AAT) utilize specially trained and nationally registered animals to decrease loneliness, improve quality of life, enhance learning, and provide motivation for achieving specific therapeutic goals.     AAA and AAT are frequently used in hospitals, nursing homes, senior citizen centers, and schools.   Guidelines for Animal Assisted Activity, Animal-Assisted Therapy and Resident Animal Programs.

There are many benefits of visiting therapy dogs...   The loving, non-judgmental presence of companion pets creates a cozy, homelike setting in a hospital environment. And where humans sometimes fail, animals are often successful in cutting through the barriers that isolate people with physical and emotional difficulties.   The therapeutic benefits of animal assisted therapy include: v     Promotes shorter hospital stays v     Decreased need for painkilling medication in some   post-operative patients v     Decreased anxiety and depression in patients v     Increased self-esteem v     Stronger desire to communicate v     Lowered blood pressure v     Increased motivation to get well v     Increased willingness to interact with other patients and/or hospital staff

Medical studies and field reports show animals have a comforting , reassuring effect on people. Also, animals pay no attention to age, physical disability or emotional dysfunction. They accept people as they are, making them the ideal therapy companion.

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