-
100
1600-2000 BC: Ancient Greeks
The Ancient Greeks kept dogs in their healing temples. They also encouraged horseback riding for people suffering from depression or terminal illnesses. -
400
Hippocrates- 400 BC
Hippocrates documented benefits of horese back riding as "natural excercise". (American Hippotherapy Association (AHA),
2003). Pliny the Elder also recommended lap dogs for companionship (Reynolds, 2007) {Found Online: http://www.pat.org.za/files/documents/Research focus physiology of human animal interaction SCAS journal2008.pdf} -
John Locke
Dr John Locke recommended to have c hildren responsible for pets to build their sense of responsibility (Serpell, no date) {Found Online: http://research.vet.upenn.edu/Portals/36/media/Serpell_Animal_Companions_Human_Wellbeing.pdf} -
The York Retreat:
The York Retreat introduced of the first AAI programme. -
Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale encouraged the use of animals for people living with chronic illness. -
Bethlem Hospital
Bethlem Hospital had animals live in the hospital wards to lift their patients' spirits (Serpell, James (2000). "Animal Companions and Human Well-Being: An Historical Exploration of the Value of Human-Animal Relationships" 3–17) -
Bethel Hospital-Germany
Pets were an integral part of the treatment protocol used to treat patients living in the residential treatment center for epileptics.
(Perelle and Granville, no date) {Found Online: http://www.societyandanimalsforum.org/sa/sa1.1/perelle.html} -
First guide dog school for the blind
First guide dog school for the blind opened in Oldenburg by German doctor, Dr Gerhard Stalling (International Guide Dog Federation) {Found Online: http://www.igdf.org.uk/about-us/facts-and-figures/history-of-guide-dogs/} -
St Elizabeth Hospital
Animal visitations were used as part of the mental health programme -
Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud started having his dog Jo-Fi sit in his therapy sessions (Latham, 2011) {Found Online: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/therapy-matters/201104/dogs-man-s-best-therapist} -
The Army Air Force Convalescent Centre, USA
The Army Air Force Convalescent Centre hired animals (e.g., dogs, horses) as part of their airmen rehabilitation programme (Chumley, 2102) (Found Online: http://www.cs.amedd.army.mil/FileDownloadpublic.aspx?docid=73e8d2aa-1a2a-467d-b6e3-e73652da8622) -
Green Chimneys
Green Chimneys school for children with special needs was founded by the Ross Family, where children benefitted from having companion animals to care for and interact with. -
Borris Levinson
Professor Boris Levinson used his dog Jingles in his therapy sessions and wrote about the use of pets to develop a therapeutic relationship between therapist and patient -
Lima State Hospital
Patients were introduced to small animals in the hospital. later on, improved relationships between patients and staff were noted, and reduced number of fights and suicide attempts on wards declined dramatically. -
Delta Foundation
Delta Foundation was founded, with Michael J. McCulloch as the President. The foundation gathered a group of interested researchers and practitioners in both human and animal fields. -
Dr. Dean Katcher
Psychiatrist Dr. Dean Katcher along with his research team found that peope who interacted with pets had lower blood pressure than those interacting with other people (Morrison, 2007) {Found Online: http://www.pawsforpeople.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Health-Benefits-of-Animal-Assisted-Interventions.pdf} -
San Patrignano
Vincenzo Muccioli incorporated human-animal bond activities and AAI while working with young people marginalised by addiction in his family home- now considered the largest drug rehabilitation programme in the world -
Centre for the Interaction of Animals and Society
Centre for the Interaction of Animals and Society was founded as a research centre within the University of Pennsylvania -School of Veterinary Medicine (Kruger et al, 2004) {Found Online: http://research.vet.upenn.edu/portals/36/media/cias_aai_white_paper.pdf} -
SCAS
The Society for Companion Animal Studies established -
Dr Samuel and Elizabeth Corson
Dr Samuel and Elizabeth Corson documented positive results upon providing individuals in an institutional setting with dogs or cats for the study purposes.
{Found Online: http://repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/handle/2263/26996/04chapter4.pdf?sequence=5} -
The Purdy Prison Programme
The Purdy Programme is a prison dog training programme introduced by Sister Pauline Quinn, a former inmate. Dogs are brought to women prisoners where they are trained, then released for adoption by families outside. -
Pets as Therapy
Originally introduced by Lesley Scott-Ordish who was concerned about people who had to give up their pets on entering supported living or institutions -
Biophilia Hypothesis
Edward O. Wilson put the Biophilia Hypothesis, which underpins AAI and asserts the existence of a genetically based human need and propensity to affiliate with life and lifelike processes -
The National Institute of Health
NIH has taken an interest in the health benefits of human-animal interactions, hence supported and conducted relative research -
Therapet
Therapet visitation programme was introduced to Scotland by Canine Concern -
International Association for Human-Animal Interaction Organisation
IAHAIO was established to provide leadership and give guidance on human-animal interactions through its Resolutions, to local and national governments -
The International Society for Anthrozoology
ISAZ was established as a supportive organization for the scientific and scholarly study of human-animal interactions -
Project Pooch
Project Pooch prison-based dog training programme for young male offenders was started -
Friedmann et al.- The Survival Study
Friedmann et al. found that 28% of non pet owners died within one year post discharge from a coronary unit, in comparison to 5.7% of pet owners who died. -
The International Society for Animal-Assisted Therapy
ISAAT, was officially founded in Zurich by representatives from universities and private institutions in Japan, Germany, Luxembourg and Switzerland. It aimed to ensure quality of offered programmes of continuing education in the field of AAI, as well as promote recognition of such interventions.
