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John Locke advocates child pets
John Locke advised giving children pets so that they could learn to be gentle and have responsibility for others. -
Period: to
Devp of AAI
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The York Retreat introduces companion animals
First recorded introduction of companion animals to a UK institution led by William Tuke. Patients at this facility were allowed to wander the courtyards and gardens that were full of small domestic animals, proven to be effective tools for socialization. -
Florence Nightingale advises small pets for the sick
Florence Nightingale wrote "a small pet is often a excellent companion for the sick, for long chronic cases espescially". -
Bethel, West Germany implements animals into treatment plans
A center for epileptic patients as well as other mental disorders began implementing animals into their treatment plans. -
St Elizabeth's Hospital, Washington uses canine assisted interventions
A USA army team implemented the visit of dogs as a therapeutic intervention for rehabilitating soldiers -
First documented case of AAI in the US
From 1944-45, the Army Air Force Convalescent Center in Pawling, New York used dogs, horses, and other farm animals to rehabilitate airmen. -
Green Chimneys School founded
Founded by the Ross Family for initially mainstream children and latterly for those with special needs. Evidence of beneficial effects of children being in contact with nature and animal companions. -
Boris Levinson uses animals as a therapeutic technique
Boris Levison, a clinical psychologist, discovered he could make significant progress with a disturbed child when his dog, Jingles, attended therapy sessions. He went on to find that many uncommunicative children would interact positively with the dog. -
First planned AAI programme in US at Lima State Hospital
Lima State Hospital for the Criminally Insane, social worker David Lee presented inmates with small animals - the number of fights reduced significantly and suicide attempts nearly ceased altogether. Inmates were able to have warm relationships with the pets provided. -
Delta Foundation formed
Formed in Portland, Oregon with Michael McCulloch as President -
San Patriagnano drug rehabilitation programme founded
Vincenzo Muccioli opened his family home to young people maginalised by addiction. The therapeutic approach includes AAI. -
SCAS founded
The Society of Compnaion Animal Studies founded by a group of forward thinking people who deemed the human-animal bond worthy of study. -
Review of AAT in institutional settings
Dr. Samuel and Elizabeth Corson reviewed AAT in an institutional setting and patients were paired with animals of a similar personaility. In the sessions that followed, patients were much more open with the therapist, answering questions more thoroughly. Subjectively, the patients seemed to be happier overall. -
First published report on effects of companion animals on physical health.
Friedman et al published a study examining one year survivial post discharge from a coronnary unit. 28 % of non owners died with one year whilst only 5.7 % of pet owners died. -
Delta Foundation became Delta Society
Organisations name changed to symbolize an expanding group of interested researchers and medical practitioners in the humna animal field. Leo Bustad became President. -
Prison Pet Partnership Programme founded
Sister Pauline, a Dominican nun, and the late Dr. Leo Bustad, one of the founders of The Delta Society, believed that inmate rehabilitation could be facilitated by the human-animal bond following the experiences of former prisoner Kathy Quinn. Strays dogs were rehabilitated by women prisoners with the aim of providing dogs to the community and medical assistance dogs. -
Pets as Therapy introduced
Introduced by Lesley Scott Ordish looking for an alternative for people who had to give up their pets on entering supported living or institutions. -
The Biophilia Hypothesis published
Postulated by entomologist E O Wilson Biophilia is one of the theoretical frameworks underpinning AAI. -
National Institute of Health takes interest in HAI
NIH, the largest souce of funding in world medical research, takes an interest in human-animal interactions. REcognises and supports study in this field. -
Therapet founded in Scotland
Majorie Henley-Price founded this dog-visiting programme. -
Study shows beneficial physiological effects of HAI
Study conducted by Julia K. Vormbrock and John M. Grossberg reviewed the physiological effects of petting and talking to dogs and discovered that blood pressure was lowest while petting the dogs. -
Study determined AAT reduced anxiety levels
Dr. Barker and Dr. Dawson performed a study on the use of AAT in reducing anxiety levels of institutionalized patients. They determined that anxiety levels were significantly reduced in patients with mood disorders and psychotic disorders after a session of AAT. The study suggests the low demands of human-animal interaction was effective for individuals with psychotic disorders as compared to traditional therapy. -
The International Association for Human-Animal Interaction Organisation founded
Umbrella body for human-animal bond organisations. It provides leadership and advice on HAI's. -
The International Society for Anthrozoology formed
ISAZ formed as a supportive organisation for the scientific and scholarly study of HAI's. -
Project Pooch inagurated
The first prison-based dog training programme for young male offenders founded by Joan Dalton. Reduction in recidivism rates have been documented. -
The Pet Beareavment Support Service developed
SCAS Dr Mary Stewart developed PBSS as a result of seminal research into the effects of pet loss. Volunteer training programme and support hotline developed. -
Cindy Ehlers of Oregon uses her dog with traumatised students
Cindy Ehlers of Eugene, Oregon took her Husky dog, Bear, to visit with students and others traumatized by the 1998 shootings at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon and the violence in 1999 at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. -
PBSS jointly delivered by SCAS and The Blue Cross
Programme supporting many thousands of grieving pet owners annually. -
The International Society for Animal Assisted Therapy officially founded.
ISAAT founded in Zurich by representatives from universities and private institutions in Japan, Germany, Luxemborg and Switzerland.
