AAliyah L.

Nickelson

April 29, 2022

Man’s Search For Meaning

Mrs. Regalia

The History and Significance of Pet

Therapy

Did you know that service dogs and therapy dogs have totally different jobs? Service

dogs are trained to help their owners who may be visually impaired, have mental disabilities,

anxiety, seizure disorders, diabetes, or PTSD. Although therapy dogs go through the same

training, they can help more than just their owners. For example, they can work with cancer

patients, first responders, and students who have autism. In the last month and a half I have

been working on a ‘senior passion’ project in my Man’s Search For Meaning Class. We were to

choose a topic that we were passionate about and research our topics thoroughly.

We were given the opportunity to delve into our topic of choice through various forms

of research in preparation for our final presentations. My inspiration behind my chosen topic,

which is pet therapy, stems from my love for animals – but also medicine. I have seen many

people get misdiagnosed and mistreated by physicians, and this is what has encouraged my love

for medicine and my desire to help people. Pet-assisted therapy has proven very beneficial for

people with medical conditions and mental illnesses. Dating back to around 3000 BC ancient

Egyptians relied on natural remedies to cure their ailments like; mustard seed, juniper, and

honey. Unfortunately as most powerful things fall from glory, so did ancient Egypt, but their

medicinal practices lived on.

AAliyah L. Nickelson

April 29, 2022

Man’s Search For Meaning

Mrs. Regalia

Today many people rely on picking up prescribed medications from their local CVS

Pharmacy. While this is convenient, would it ever be possible to go back to the ways of ancient

Egypt? It would be nearly impossible to go back into history, but maybe we already have. The

idea of pet therapy first emerged from Belgium in the middle ages, when animals and humans

spent time in rehabilitation together. The early Greeks used horses to help people who were

severely ill get their minds off of their situation. By 1940’s the American Red Cross and the

Army Air Corps helped pair animals with veterans who were recovering from injuries during

WW2.

In 1961 a child psychologist by the name of Boris Levison, along with his counterpart

Konrad Lorenz realized that the bond between humans and animals could be utilized in treating

those with mental illnesses. Dr. Levinson completed the first formal study involving pet therapy

through an accidental discovery using his dog, Jingles. He discovered that having a dog present

during a therapeutic session aided mentally impaired patients in opening up. In 1969 he wrote

“---animals can provide some relief, give much pleasure and remind us of our origins”.

(Levinson, 1969) Many of Levinson’s fellows didn’t believe that his research would be of any

benefit, but he continued despite their discouragement.

Thanks to Levinson’s research we know that diseases don’t always have to be treated

with medication alone. Humans and animals can share camaraderie, and help each other in a

multitude of ways. In a journal written by Lauren Zina Piro she discusses that the social,

emotional, and cognitive impact animals have on us are the most crucial during childhood.

Researchers use the most widely accepted, Model of Belsky when looking at childhood
AAliyah L. Nickelson

April 29, 2022

Man’s Search For Meaning

Mrs. Regalia

development because it takes into account the events in a child's life that may have an effect on

their growth. (Edenburg, & Van Lith, 2011) About 25% of teenagers and 51.8% of adults suffer

from chronic conditions in the United States. Piro suggests that companion animals can

improve the general well being of those with chronic conditions because of their desire and

nature to bond so closely with humans. Companion animals “promote a warm and safe

atmosphere that can be independently therapeutic and help clients accept interventions offered

by the treatment provider”. (Edenburg, & Van Lith, 2011)

Over the last few years it has become well established that animals can be trained to assist

those who live with chronic conditions or may not be able to take care of themselves without

assistance. A 2018 six part docu-series on Netflix called Dogs, explores the bonds that are

formed between animals and their owners across the world. The first episode focuses on a young

girl named Corrine Gogolewski, who lives in Cincinnati Ohio, and suffers from epilepsy. I was

most touched by Corrine’s story because I know what it's like to be isolated because of a

medical condition, and how hard going to and from the hospital can be. In the episode Corrine

and her family are learning how to adopt a service dog named Rory into their lives through a

local program called “4 Paws For Ability”. There, Corrine’s Mother, Father and younger sister

have the opportunity to meet families who are going through the same situations as them and

get Rory used to Corrine’s seizures. Corrine’s life will forever be changed because of Rory, and

the impact he has had on her and her family.

AAliyah L. Nickelson

April 29, 2022

Man’s Search For Meaning

Mrs. Regalia

Not only can service dogs help people in need, but they can help their fellow fur pals

who’ve suffered from trauma too. Although service dogs have to be specially trained and

certified to help people, they don’t have to be when helping their peers. After all, it is the

nature of dogs to help, and even if they don’t wear a vest it doesn’t mean that they can’t aid

someone else in need. Chama, who is a cattle-dog mix, started having behavioral issues with the

children in his home before coming to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, a nonprofit based in

Utah. After being placed in group housing with a few other dogs for some months he met

Cardinal. Cardinal had very little experience with walking on leashes and was easily frightened,

but Chama was a great role model to him. Chama taught Cardinal how to enjoy the breeze

during a car ride, and long walks through the park by emotionally supporting him.

Animals have much more potential than we give them credit for. They can assuage our

feelings of anxiety and worry, aid those who need it most, and impart unto us a friendship that

will last a lifetime. More than half of pups enrolled in service dog training programs don’t pass

to become certified, but over 500,000 service dogs are utilized in the United States alone. Any

animal, big or small, certified or not is an asset to our community and our world. “A small pet

animal is often an excellent companion for the sick”. (Florence Nightingale 1859)
AAliyah L. Nickelson

April 29, 2022

Man’s Search For Meaning

Mrs. Regalia

Works Cited:

Piro, Lauren Z. “The Impact of Companion Animals on the Development and

Health of Children.” Edited by Suditi Gupta, Csustan.edu, California State
University, Stanislaus Honors Program,
https://www.csustan.edu/sites/default/files/groups/University%20Honors%20Progr
am/Journals_two/piro_lauren_.pdf. Accessed 2 May 2022.

Ulery, Gina. “Animal Assisted Therapy - A Brief History.” Pdresources.org, 3 Jan.

2017, https://blog.pdresources.org/animal-assisted-therapy-a-brief-history/.
Accessed 20 April 2022.

Lévêque, Rémi, et al. “How Animals Help Improve Our Mental Health.” Azickia, 7
July 2021,
https://azickia.org/how-animals-can-help-improve-our-mental-health?lang=en.
Accessed 17 March 2022.

Gfrerer, Nastassja, and Michael Taborsky. “Working Dogs Cooperate among One
Another by Generalised Reciprocity.” Nature News, Nature Publishing Group, 6
Mar. 2017, https://www.nature.com/articles/srep43867. Accessed 1 May 2022.

Industry News, Admin. “The Difference Between a ‘Service Dog’ and a ‘Therapy
Dog.’” Prestige Employment Solutions, 23 Oct. 1970,
AAliyah L. Nickelson

April 29, 2022

Man’s Search For Meaning

Mrs. Regalia

https://www.pesau.net.au/the-difference-between-a-service-dog-and-a-therapy-dog
/. Accessed 24 March 2022.

Works Cited:

Smith, Ashley. “Tri-State Family Featured in Netflix 'Dogs' Show Stepping up for
Another Family in Need.” Https://Www.fox19.Com, 16 June 2021,
https://www.fox19.com/2021/06/16/tri-state-family-featured-netflix-dogs-show-ste
pping-up-another-family-need/. Accessed 17 March 2022.