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John Locke advised giving children pets so that they could learn to be gentle and have responsibility for others.
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First recorded introduction of companion animals to a UK institution led by William Tuke. Patients at this facility were allowed to wander the courtyards and gardens that were full of small domestic animals, proven to be effective tools for socialization.
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Florence Nightingale wrote "a small pet is often a excellent companion for the sick, for long chronic cases espescially".
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A center for epileptic patients as well as other mental disorders began implementing animals into their treatment plans.
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A USA army team implemented the visit of dogs as a therapeutic intervention for rehabilitating soldiers
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From 1944-45, the Army Air Force Convalescent Center in Pawling, New York used dogs, horses, and other farm animals to rehabilitate airmen.
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Founded by the Ross Family for initially mainstream children and latterly for those with special needs. Evidence of beneficial effects of children being in contact with nature and animal companions.
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Boris Levison, a clinical psychologist, discovered he could make significant progress with a disturbed child when his dog, Jingles, attended therapy sessions. He went on to find that many uncommunicative children would interact positively with the dog.
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Lima State Hospital for the Criminally Insane, social worker David Lee presented inmates with small animals - the number of fights reduced significantly and suicide attempts nearly ceased altogether. Inmates were able to have warm relationships with the pets provided.
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Formed in Portland, Oregon with Michael McCulloch as President
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Vincenzo Muccioli opened his family home to young people maginalised by addiction. The therapeutic approach includes AAI.
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The Society of Compnaion Animal Studies founded by a group of forward thinking people who deemed the human-animal bond worthy of study.
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Dr. Samuel and Elizabeth Corson reviewed AAT in an institutional setting and patients were paired with animals of a similar personaility. In the sessions that followed, patients were much more open with the therapist, answering questions more thoroughly. Subjectively, the patients seemed to be happier overall.
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Friedman et al published a study examining one year survivial post discharge from a coronnary unit. 28 % of non owners died with one year whilst only 5.7 % of pet owners died.
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Organisations name changed to symbolize an expanding group of interested researchers and medical practitioners in the humna animal field. Leo Bustad became President.
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Sister Pauline, a Dominican nun, and the late Dr. Leo Bustad, one of the founders of The Delta Society, believed that inmate rehabilitation could be facilitated by the human-animal bond following the experiences of former prisoner Kathy Quinn. Strays dogs were rehabilitated by women prisoners with the aim of providing dogs to the community and medical assistance dogs.
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Introduced by Lesley Scott Ordish looking for an alternative for people who had to give up their pets on entering supported living or institutions.
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Postulated by entomologist E O Wilson Biophilia is one of the theoretical frameworks underpinning AAI.
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NIH, the largest souce of funding in world medical research, takes an interest in human-animal interactions. REcognises and supports study in this field.
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Majorie Henley-Price founded this dog-visiting programme.
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Study conducted by Julia K. Vormbrock and John M. Grossberg reviewed the physiological effects of petting and talking to dogs and discovered that blood pressure was lowest while petting the dogs.
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Dr. Barker and Dr. Dawson performed a study on the use of AAT in reducing anxiety levels of institutionalized patients. They determined that anxiety levels were significantly reduced in patients with mood disorders and psychotic disorders after a session of AAT. The study suggests the low demands of human-animal interaction was effective for individuals with psychotic disorders as compared to traditional therapy.
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Umbrella body for human-animal bond organisations. It provides leadership and advice on HAI's.
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ISAZ formed as a supportive organisation for the scientific and scholarly study of HAI's.
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The first prison-based dog training programme for young male offenders founded by Joan Dalton. Reduction in recidivism rates have been documented.
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SCAS Dr Mary Stewart developed PBSS as a result of seminal research into the effects of pet loss. Volunteer training programme and support hotline developed.
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Cindy Ehlers of Eugene, Oregon took her Husky dog, Bear, to visit with students and others traumatized by the 1998 shootings at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon and the violence in 1999 at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado.
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Programme supporting many thousands of grieving pet owners annually.
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ISAAT founded in Zurich by representatives from universities and private institutions in Japan, Germany, Luxemborg and Switzerland.
