Animal-Supportive Homes
While the benefits of animal exposure therapy are well-documented, the practical challenges that animals bring with them typically preclude them from being a part of trauma recovery therapy.
Some of the top concerns:
- Triggering allergy or asthma attacks
- Bothersome odors, particularly from litter boxes
- Disruption from pet sounds
- Aggressive behavior causing fear or injury
Furthermore, having an animal in the home requires additional work to care for it and clean up after it.
In individual living facilities, while routine responsibilities can be therapeutic, they can also overwhelm a person already operating at diminished capacity, leading to follow-on concerns over cleanliness, health, hygiene, and animal welfare.
In group living facilities, animals can be taken care of by staff; however, this increases workload and can be an unwelcome distraction when residents need attention.
However, the amount of work animals require and the problems caused are all dramatically reduced when those animals are living in an environment designed for them.
These disadvantages are greatly reduced by building an environment designed specifically around the needs of animals, both physical and psychological needs without detracting from the living environment for people.
This is no small feat, but it can be done and the well-documented benefits are well worth the effort, especially in cases of extreme trauma. (Newtown example)
animals can disrupt harmony through unpredictable behavior
Disrupting harmony and in a group living scenario.
Largest remaining barrier is people with severe allergies or extreme fear/anxiety, impulse control. This strategy should only be undertaken by organizations with multiple facilities or those whose primary focus will be animal exposure therapy.
Add to HEART: Useful for group environments, short duration when all residents are compatible with it, not permanent in case some residents end up not liking it as much, they see the cat get better and move on before getting too attached.