Thriving through relationships: assistance dogs’ and companion dogs’ perceived ability to contribute to thriving in individuals with and without a disability

Acceptability and effects of acquiring an assistance or companion dog for families of children on the autism spectrum

PURPOSE

Assistance and companion dogs have numerous positive effects for family of autistic children, such as supporting their rehabilitation and improving their quality of life. To date, very few studies have compared the effects of both types of dogs. This comparison, considering the limited access to assistance dogs, could be helpful for families wanting to adopt a dog.

METHODS

An explanatory sequential design with a mixed-method approach was used. First, 85 parents (nassistance dogs = 57; ncompanion dogs = 28) of children aged between 3 and 17 years old (M = 10.73, SD = 3.67) completed an online questionnaire including sociodemographic questions and the Treatment Acceptability Rating Form-Revised (TARF-R). Then, 17 of these participants (nassistance dogs = 14; ncompanion dogs = 3) completed a semi-structured interview.

RESULTS

The quantitative data analyses showed that parents with assistance dogs were significantly more satisfied: t (83) = -2.12, p = .037, d = 0.49. Significant associations between some sociodemographic variables (e.g., number of children, comorbid condition, reasons for acquiring a dog) and acceptability/satisfaction (TARF-R total scores) were found. The qualitative analysis revealed that families with both dog types observed positive effects.

CONCLUSIONS

In brief, having an assistance dog constitutes a significant added value; nevertheless, both types of dogs are appreciated.

Understanding the Role of Therapy Dogs in Human Health Promotion

Dogs may provide humans with a range of physical, mental and social benefits. Whilst there is growing scientific evidence of benefits to humans, there has been less focus on the impact to canine health, welfare and ethical considerations for the dogs. The importance of animal welfare is increasingly acknowledged, indicating that the Ottawa Charter should be extended to include the welfare of non-human animals supporting the promotion of human health. Therapy dog programmes are delivered across a variety of settings including hospitals, aged care facilities and mental health services, highlighting the important role they play in human health outcomes. Research has shown that that there are biomarkers for stress in humans and other animals engaged in human-animal interactions. This review aims to assess the impact of human-animal interactions on therapy dogs engaged in providing support to human health. While challenging, it is paramount to ensure that, within the framework of One Welfare, the welfare of therapy dogs is included, as it is a key factor for future sustainability. We identified a range of concerns due to the lack of guidelines and standards to protect the wellbeing of the dogs engaged in these programmes. Extension of the Ottawa Charter to include the welfare of non-human animals with leveraging through a One Welfare approach would promote animal and human health beyond current boundaries.

Issues Regarding the Welfare of Assistance Dogs

While the roles and efficacy of assistance animals have received attention in the literature, there has been less research focused on animal welfare issues regarding assistance animals. This is a pertinent area, given the burgeoning of types of assistance animals, situations in which they are employed, and access issues arising from increased assistance animal engagement. Animal welfare as pertains to assistance animals is discussed in this paper with respect to overall research on animal welfare concerns in a variety of contexts, training and access issues, and legal and regulatory concerns. Relevant examples from global contexts, as well as the specific Australian context, are offered. Conclusions include that while human quality of life is often considered and protected in laws and policies, this is much less true for assistance animals. Additional attention is required to ensure that the quality of life of both persons with disabilities and their assistance animals can be ensured. Support for a person to meet the needs of an assistance animal, as well as considerations for keeping such working dyads together in changed circumstances (e.g., following a move to an assisted living mode of accommodation), are recommended.

The impact of owning a hearing dog on quality of life, hearing handicap, and social functioning: an Australian cohort

OBJECTIVE

To determine the impact of owning a hearing dog on self-reported hearing handicap, quality of life (QoL), and social functioning.

DESIGN

Group comparison study design, utilising five surveys (General Information Survey, Hearing Information Survey, Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly/Adults, Medical Outcomes Survey, and Social Functioning Questionnaire).

STUDY SAMPLE

23 respondents from the 2019 Australian Lions Hearing Dog waitlist (controls) and 58 respondents from all clients who had received a hearing dog through the Australian Lions Hearing Dog service (cases).

RESULTS

No significant difference was found in Hearing Handicap Inventory or Social Functioning Questionnaire scores between the groups, although there was a tendency for improvement with dog ownership. The owner group scored significantly lower than the waitlist group on three Medical Outcomes Survey sub-items (general health, physical functioning, and role limitations due to physical health), along with total health-related QoL. These results contrasted with the broad emotional and psychosocial benefits identified through thematic analysis of responses.

CONCLUSIONS

It is feasible, yet not certain, that owning a hearing dog may bring a reduction in hearing handicap, as well as emotional and social benefits to the QoL of individuals, but it also appears to be associated with poorer perception of health.

Examining the role of pets in cancer survivors' physical and mental wellbeing

PURPOSE

Australian cancer survivors have multiple wellbeing support needs, and Australians frequently keep pets, a practice associated with physical and mental health benefits. This mixed-methods study explores the influence of relationships of PERMA (positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment) wellbeing domains and pet ownership on cancer survivors' physical and mental wellbeing and quality of life.

METHODS

A convenience sample of Australian cancer survivors (N = 162) were surveyed, recording demographic, pet ownership, PERMA wellbeing, physical and mental health characteristics, and support needs. Quality of life and health scores were predicted from PERMA domains and pet ownership.

RESULTS

Pet ownership was highly prevalent in participating cancer survivors, predicting increased mental health scores. No associations were seen for physical health. Cancer survivors sought instrumental pet care support and pet-owner relationship maintenance during survivorship.Implications: Pet ownership may be leverageable in interventions for mental health and wellbeing improvement during cancer recovery. Research should next clarify pet ownership prevalence in this population.

Beyond the Benefits of Assistance Dogs: Exploring Challenges Experienced by First-Time Handlers

Simple Summary

People with disabilities employ many forms of assistive technology, including assistance dogs (AD), to assist them with managing their disability. Most previous research has focused on the benefits of ADs for their handlers with disability; little is known about the challenges they face. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of first-time handlers when working with an AD. It was found that handlers experienced many benefits from their dog, as would be expected. However, they also reported experiencing many challenges which hindered or delayed these benefits. These challenges arose from the handler’s medical conditions, cognitive ability and social environment, as well as from dog-related factors. They are important for potential handlers and AD organizations to consider prior to placing an AD, since this will assist individuals and organizations to better determine if an AD is the right form of assistive technology for a particular individual, and, if so, how best to prepare to integrate the dog into the person’s life.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore first time handlers’ experiences when working with an assistance dog (AD). Interviewees included seven first time AD handlers and 14 other individuals close to these handlers, including family members, carers and AD instructors. Semi-structured interviews were conducted six months and one year after each handler received their AD. Interview questions were informed by the Thriving Through Relationships theory of social support and previous interviews with the participants. Inductive content analysis corroborated previous findings regarding the benefits that ADs provide. In addition, four factors were revealed to substantially influence the challenges handlers experienced when learning to utilize their dog. These included the handlers’ medical conditions, cognitive ability and social environment, and dog-related factors. Organizations would benefit from considering these factors in their operational processes.