Animal Assisted Therapy has also gained recognition as an excellent tool in assisting individuals and especially children suffering from various disabilities. The concept is similar to that of therapeutic riding and is also directed at many of the disabilities and emotional conditions mentioned above, as well as the blind and deaf, children with violent tendencies, victims of physical, psychological and sexual abuse, trauma, and more.
Although we all have basic needs required for our development, children have a greater need to know they are loved, respected, needed, accepted and trusted. Since animals offer unconditional love and acceptance, and also express innocence, helplessness and need for care in order to survive, interacting with animals can provide for many of these basic, developmental needs.
In animals, what you see is what you get - whereas humans play games, hide behind pretenses, attempt dishonesty or manipulation, etc. An animal is by nature devoid of ulterior motives and unable to lie. Animal presence is mostly unthreatening and relaxing, and since children tend to see animals as equals, instilling values of empathy, sensitivity, understanding and consideration is more easily done through animals than humans.