Pet therapy has been explained as a guided interaction between an individual and a trained pet. This process also involves the animal’s handler in the therapy. The main purpose of pet therapy is to help a patient recover from or cope with a health problem or a mental disorder. Pet therapy is also called animal-assisted therapy (AAT). Dogs and cats are the animals most commonly used in pet therapy. However, fish, guinea pigs, horses, and other animals that meet screening criteria can be used for giving the same therapy. The type of animal chosen for the therapy depends on the therapeutic goals of a patient’s treatment plan. Pet therapy, or AAT, is sometimes confused with animal-assisted activities (AAA). Pet therapy is a formal, structured set of encounters. These meetings are planned to help patients reach specific goals in their treatment or progress. AAA this involves more casual meetings. In AAA, an animal and its handler interact with one or more people for comfort or recreation activity.
Pet therapy has also been proved to be a cure for humans with mental health issues. Those who are animal lovers they already know how good it feels to interact with their pet. Taylor (2014) now research has shown that this positive effect can also be applied in a therapeutic setting. Leveraging the power of pets is becoming a vital tool in the treatment of a variety of medical conditions and disorders particularly those associated with mental health. A wide range of mental health issues are now treated through pet-therapy programs. Interactions with animals are considered to offer benefits to patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, autism, and challenging psychiatric disorders. Uyemura (2013) Chandler says the research is out there and has been increasing since 2002. She cites one study, for example, that showed a significant drop in stress hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline and aldosterone and an increase in “health inducing...