Animal Assisted Interventions and a brief history of the animal and human bond

Spending time with animals, either on care farms or as part of animal assisted interventions, can be is a very rewarding experience for the individuals and groups involved. Research by Churchill Fellow Ione Maria Rojas, and published in her 2015 report, found that working with, or even just spending time, with animals has physical, emotional, cognitive and social benefits for people of all ages. 

The story of the animal and human bond is woven into our history, culture and folklore and goes back to the time humans first domesticated animals. Early men and women called upon animals as guardian spirits and in some cultures, such as the Ancient Egyptians, there are depictions of part human and part animal Gods and Goddesses. Closer to home, country folklorists often spoke of animals as being 'helpers' or the 'mascots of the Saints'.

Perhaps one of the earliest examples of what we would now call 'animal assisted interventions' can be found in the Elizabethan age when 'gentle' or 'comforter' dogs offered succour to ladies who suffered with ills.

Our relationship with animals has not always been seen as beneficial and benign, such as for instance during the English Witch Trials. European culture at the time was suspicious of animals due to the belief that they assisted witches and 'cunning folk' in their practice of magic. Tragedies or unusual events were viewed through the lens of witchcraft with animals becoming an easy scapegoat for the blame. Many people of the time felt that keeping away from animals would protect them from harm during uncertain times.

Fortunately, the Seventeenth Century and the Age of Enlightenment ushered in a more sympathetic and compassionate view of animals. So much so that kindness to animals became a theme of children's literature in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries. Parents hoped this would encourage their children to display the highly desirable values of kindness and gentility.

In the late Eighteenth Century animal companionship as a method to treat patients with physical and mental health conditions became increasingly popular. Florence Nightingale wrote of the benefits in her book 'Notes on Nursing' in 1859 describing animals as 'an excellent companion for the sick' and 'for long chronic cases especially'.

In the 1900's using animals in patients treatment plans fell out of favour. However, over the last 20 years in particular, green care approaches with animals and humans has enjoyed a resurgence.  Animals are being seen, once again, as soothing companions for those suffering with anxiety, physical or mental illness or disabilities, an obvious example being the rise in popularity of emotional support animals.