How animals can help traumatized children.

• Author: Phillips, Allie

LIKE MOST PET OWNERS, I have experienced how therapeutic a pet's unconditional love can be during times of stress. It has not surprised me, therefore, to see many organizations, counselors and health care professionals formally recognize that animals can help people with emotional and physical injuries recover faster.

The American Humane Association has long acknowledged the power of the human-animal bond, and currently trains and provides registered therapy animals to help people in need--especially children who have been maltreated or have witnessed trauma. To further support and advance this work, American Humane launched a national initiative at the 21st Annual Crimes Against Children Conference in Dallas, Texas, on August 17, 2009, called the Therapy Animals Supporting Kids (TASK) Program.

As co-creator of the TASK Program, along with American Humane Director of Animal-Assisted Interventions Diana McQuarrie, we hope to provide guidance regarding therapy animals to child welfare professionals, attorneys and prosecutors, child protection workers, social workers, police officers, and any other professionals who work with maltreated children. It is widely accepted that therapy animals can benefit individuals who have suffered physical or emotional trauma. The TASK Program takes this concept one step further and encourages child welfare professionals to incorporate therapy animals into sessions with children who have been abused or neglected, or have witnessed violence. When children have suffered trauma, it is often difficult for them to speak of their experiences. Incorporating a therapy animal into the process can help a child open up and promote the healing process.

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My partnership with Ms. McQuarrie includes authoring the American Humane's TASK Program Manual, a publication that merges two important areas of expertise: first, the practical issues involving setting up an animal-assisted therapy program and safely working with therapy animals; and second, the legal implications of effectively incorporating therapy animals in work with children that often entails a difficult court process.

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The TASK Manual identifies six situations for incorporating therapy animals into work helping traumatized children, and thoroughly details the benefits, drawbacks, and potential legal ramifications involved with each type of situation. The six situations are: Greeting children (at a children's advocacy center...