ABSTRACT
Animal Assisted Therapy
This article talks about how the terapy with animals can improve the life of many
people with mental illnesses as down syndrome or autism. This therapy is pioneering in
Palencia, Spain, that has been possible thanks to Salvador Tocino, therapist of San Luis
(an hospitalary center in the province). The idea was to introduce dogs in the diary
activity of this people, in this chase greyhounds, because is a calm and good breed
perfect for the therapy with illnesses people. Salvador had already developed other
therapies with horses, that was very effective.
This recent contribution to the center has produced very good results: the patients have
the obligation of look after the dogs and for them that’s something that provide them
security and independence. They feel loved by their canine mates, and their behaviour
problems due to the disease disappear while they look after and teach their pets. Also,
the center therapists recognise that for patients is easily being with animals that being
with people, because animals offer their care without question or trial them, and patients
feel it.
To improve in the treatment of this disease, doctors recognise that being with animals
can’t replace completely drugs, but they affirm that due to those therapies,
improvements in patients are higher, and in some case it’s possible to get a reintegration
almost total of those people in society. All this progress is making possible a new world
of treatment of mental diseases. Therapy with animals is something real.
Ivan Sanz Jerónimo
Victor Sanchez Mora
David Rodriguez Garcia
Sara Selva Román Sagüillo
Michelle Villaverde Ferreira