| In recent years, the use of animals has been explored as a tool for the facilitation of traditional therapeutic interventions. While much of the data is from observation and case study examples, some literature supports the notion that animals have the potential to facilitate the development of the therapeutic relationship. Animals are also perceived as non-judgmental and unbiased, allowing for increased comfort for those who are in need of support. Additional evidence suggests that those suffering from disabilities which impair social functioning, such as individuals with developmental disabilities, may receive benefit from non-threatening interaction with animals.;The following study was designed to observe young children engaged in an integrated playgroup which included children identified with developmental delays, and typically developing children from the community. The program was conducted at the Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and included activities related to the zoo animals, followed by a visit to specific animals within the zoo. Children were observed by unbiased raters for changes in positive social interactions, including participation, attention, and proximity seeking. Parents were given checklists to describe behaviors before the program, after the program had concluded, and several months later, in order to observe any long-term effects of participation.;The results of this study showed an improvement in the parent ratings of the children identified with developmental delays and overall improvement in observed behavior of all participants. Rater observations also showed that as the program progressed, the developmentally delayed group more closely resembled the control group in terms of the quality of observed behaviors. Overall, while there were many possible confounding variables, a very small n for this study, and no way to precisely determine the direct cause of the improvement, the results suggest that this type of program warrants further study. |
