animal assisted therapy
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. Introduction
For centuries, the importance of animals in people's lives has been recognized (All & Loving,1999). As a work assistant or companion, the contribution of animals to the enhancement of quality in human life has been documented throughout history. York Retreat in England, an establishment founded by the Quakers for people with mental illness, is attributed as the first recorded therapeutic setting where animals were utilized as adjuncts to therapy (Mallon, 1992). It was the work of Boris Levinson, a psychologist who discovered that he could reach a disturbed child during therapy sessions when his dog Jingles, was present, this initiated more research into the role of animals as therapeutic agents (Mallon, 1992). Based on Levinson's publications, both the scientific and lay communities became aware of the possibilities of using animals to enhance therapeutic outcomes for humans. The work of Levinson and others brought about the start of a new field of human service, animal assisted therapy (Fine, 2002).
II. Problem
Children and adolescents often require considerable support and attention to deal with traumatic events, a circumstance that is all to frequent in today's world (Heimlich, 2003). Studies have shown that up to a fourth of American children may be living in inadequate homes, and 7.6 percent of American Youth have reported spending at least one night in a shelter, public place, or abandoned building (Ringwalt & Greene, 1998)..