Facilitation Technique Category: Therapeutic Use of Animals

Activity Title: Contact With Animals Involving: Recall, Balance/Coordination,

Gross/Fine Motor Skills
Source: Dattilo, J., & McKenney, A. (2011) Facilitation Techniques in Therapeutic
Recreation. State College, PA: Venture Publishing, Inc
Equipment: Therapy Dog, Tennis ball, Large handed brush, Leash
Activity Description: In American culture, pets and animal have been associated with
our lives for a very long time. Due to this fact, animals have also now been incorporated
into therapy use, and have been helpful in a variety of different ways. One of the main
benefits of using animals in therapy resides in the feelings that are often elicited by using
animals, and wide diversity of different settings and populations where they can be used.
When it comes to the social development of individuals, pets have also been known to
attribute a sense of normalcy and well-being. When it comes to Animal-assisted therapy
(AAT), a goal intervention in which an animals that meets specific criteria is an integral
part of the treatment process and is administered by a professional with specialized
expertise in that field, with documentation provided for the service as well. Animalassisted activities (AAA) on the other hand, do not have pre-determined therapeutic goals
and documentation is not required. AAA are activities that include interaction with an
animal that provide opportunities to increase motivation, learning, and leisure resulting in
therapeutic en==outcomes that enhance a persons quality of life, The 3 most common
types of interventions used with animals are categorized by 1) contact with animals, 2)
caring for animals, and 3) animals used with psychotherapy. For this weeks activity, our
activity falls under the Contact with Animals Category, and it involves recall,
balance/coordination, and gross/fine motor skills. In order to practice recall, the client
will be given 1,2,3-step directions. For example, using Brandy (a German shepherd),
the client will be asked to 1) Call Brandys name, 2) Give a Command to Brandy,
and 3) After Brandy obeys the command, give a her a food treat. Remembering the
order in which the commands are given, and the specifications of what each order
entailed will assist the client in their cognitive recalling abilities. Another recall activity
involves giving the client an introduction of the dog at the moment they meet
(introductory info will include things such as, the dogs name, breed, age, and color), and
then asking them to recall the information after. The gross/fine motor skills activities
involve 1) Petting/grooming the dog, and 2) Throwing a tennis ball for the dog to catch
(which are both activities that also involve hand-eye coordination). And in relation to
balance/coordination activities, we will practice walking the dog.
Leadership Considerations: A CTRS will function as an instructor for this activity, and
he/she will assist the client if any help is needed. If there are any limitations that a client
may have or that has already been diagnosed as having, it is essential that the CTRS
gather this information as early as possible. This is done so the leader can have time to
prepare/adjust the activities, according to the specific clients needs. The level of
closeness between the leader or between the clients is all up to the client, they can be as

far or as close as they feel comfortable being. The TR specialist should also be providing
an opportunity for the participants and the animal to get to know each other, in order to
build a better relationship; Additionally, it is helpful to specify procedures to be followed
for a program employing animals in the therapeutic process, as well as, becoming
registered as handlers, evaluators and instructors in AAT services, through Per Partners (a
nonprofit organizations who educate and promote the benefits of human-animal
interactions. Unless the TR specialist is experienced in AAT, a reputable external
organization can be used to structure the program. Other important considerations
include: the selection of the animal (large animals may not be appropriate, especially if
faculty not large. It is better not to choose young animals, for their temperament and
training is not yet adequate. Animals behavior must be obedient and calm temperament.
A basic obedience test may also be administered such as passing the American Keennel
Clubs (AKC) Canine Good Citizenship (CGC) test and temperament test), materials
for people who have difficulty grasping objects we can provide a brush with an enlarged
handle to brush dogs, or balls of various weights and textured for fetch/retrieving), safety
and health issues (health regulations in relation to infection control, environmental
sanitation, and resident rights. Animals should be clean, well-groomed, and parasite free
prior to entering a facility for a visit. The visiting animal handler team should arrive 10-1
minutes prior to session commencing. And the procedure/process should be discussed in
relation to the dog/animal has an accident around the client. Additionally, a written
safety plan should be present/posted somewhere near the area where the session will
occur), environmental management (implement procedures to prevent the animal from
entering areas associated with food preparation, have awareness of the type of floor, such
as avoiding slick tiles, where animal can slip) and orientation and support (new resident
animals should be oriented to the facility, staff, residents, and visitors. Handlers must
protect their animal from potential dangers. And handlers are not responsible for
supervising participants, transporting participants, or providing other services for
participants. So the CTRS/leader must make sure staff members must be made available,
if a handler is present, in case the handler needs assistance during sessions).
Adaptations: Participants with Tourette Syndrome: Tourette Syndrome is a disorder
that involves repetitive movements or unwanted sounds (tics) that cant be easily
controlled, Examples include, repeatedly blinking your eyes, shrugging your shoulders,
or blurting out unusual sounds or offensive words. Tics usually show up between the ages
of 2 and 15, and unfortunately there is no cure for it, but there are available treatments.
Tics, which are sudden, brief, intermittent movements or sounds, are the distinct
characteristic that marks Tourette Syndrome. Tics can range from mild to severe, with the
sever tics, significantly interfering with communication, daily functioning and quality of
life. Tics can be classified into: simple (sudden, brief and repetitive tics involved in
limited muscle groups), or complex (which are distinct, coordinated patterns or
movements that are involved in multiple muscle groups). Simple tics include: eye
blinking, head jerking, mouth movements, grunting, coughing, and throat clearing.
Complex tics include: touching or smelling objects, repeating observed movements,
repeating ones own/other people phrases, or using vulgar/obscene or swear words. In
reference to program/activity adaptations, one possible adaptation can be using animals
with psychotherapy approach. So for example, some clients who have Tourettes may be

self conscious/afraid to speak/participate for fear of their disorder acting up, so by bring
in a dog/pet it allows them the opportunity to simply interact with the dog and
express/share things about themselves at their own pace. Additionally, by having the pet
in the room, the facilitator can also use them as an icebreaker. So instead of having an
awkward introductory speech/talk, by bringing in the dog and giving a description/putting
the focus on him/her, this encourages the participant to relax in the group. And finally for
the last adaptations, when it comes to walking or petting the dog, the client shall be
accompanied by another staff member to help them just in case the animal or client
become a harm to the other. When walking the dog, this can include, walking alongside
the client, or when petting the animal, it can include having a staff member within arms
reach, in case the client may have an accident. Furthermore, during the recall activity, if
the facilitator sees the client struggling, they may provide a cheat sheet or hints, to help
the client remember the task and not (while also not making them feel bad about not
being able to complete the activity) (Swerdlow & Sutherland, 2005).
Adaptations: Participants with Total Joint Replacement: Total joint replacement is a
surgical procedure where parts of an arthritic or damaged joint are removed and replaced
with a metal, plastic, or ceramic device called a prosthesis. And the prosthesis is designed
to help replicate the movement of a normal, healthy joint. A joint is considered the point
at which the ends of two bones meet, and the most common types of replacements are the
hip and knee (but other surgeries include that of the ankle, wrist, shoulder, and elbow).
Joint replacement is usually recommended when there is joint pain caused by damage to
the cartilage that lines the ends of the bones (articular cartilage)-which usually comes
from arthritis, a fracture, or another condition. When it comes to possible adaptations for
this weeks activity, they involve: using a walking assistant when walking the dog (a
cane, or a four wheel walker), having a faculty/staff member assistant the client when
going from static to moving positions or when walking (especially for hip/knee
replacements), and list of helpful stretches, that should be done before and after
participating in any exercises. An exercise that should be done before/and after the
walking of the dog (for hip replacement client) includes the Hip Abduction exercise. For
the Hip Abduction exercise, you will lie on your back, keep knees straight and toes
pointing toward the ceiling. And then slide the surgical leg out to the side, and then back
to the center (repeat 10 times, for 1 set. And perform it twice a day). Then, another simple
stretching exercise for clients who have had knee surgery includes, seated knee extension.
Here you will simply start from a normal seated position on a chair, with feet at rest (in
90 degree angle to floor), and then you will straighten your surgical leg, and bring it back
to its resting position (repeat 10 times a day, for 1 set. And perform two times a day)
(Harris, 1977).
Adaptations References
- Swerdlow, N. R., & Sutherland, A. N. (2005). Using animal models to develop
therapeutics for Tourette Syndrome. Pharmacology & therapeutics, 108(3), 281-293
- Harris, W. H. (1977). Total joint replacement. New England Journal of
Medicine, 297(12), 650-651.