Argumentative Essay On Animal Therapy

Words: 1388
Pages: 6

Have you ever seen a person with a dog in a store or visiting people in a hospital? It may seem unusual to see an animal at one of these places, but it is most likely a therapy animal. Animals are being used in various places to help all different kinds of people with their needs. “Animal -assisted therapy is a growing field that uses dogs or other animals to help people recover from or better cope with health problems, such as, heart disease, cancer, and mental health disorders” (Mayo Clinic). Many different kinds of animals are being used to service individuals who have specific medical or mental health needs. These animals are used in places like hospitals, individual's homes, nursing facilities, rehabilitation facilities, schools, and even court rooms. This is actually a small …show more content…
First of all, people who use therapy animals have lower blood pressure. “It’s been proven that petting a dog can lower blood pressure and help people heal” (Mehus-Roe). Usually, when a person is sitting and petting a dog gently, it makes them feel calm and less stressed and this affects their blood pressure in a good way. When people have lower blood pressure it is proven that they are at a lower risk for heart attacks and strokes. Furthermore, pet therapy animals are used in rehabilitation centers to help encourage physical improvement in people. “Animals also can be taught to reinforce rehabilitative behavior in patients, such as throwing a ball or walking” (Mayo Clinic). If a person has surgery or is in an accident and needs to relearn how to walk, a pet therapy animal can walk at a certain pace alongside that patient. This encourages the person to walk further and with better balance. Many people who use pet therapy animals for rehabilitative behavior most likely enjoy the dog’s company even more than a human physical