Social Work Ethics And Animal-Assisted Therapy: Balancing Human And Animal Welfare
Keywords:
Human and Animal Co-existence, Animal-Assisted Therapy and Social Work Ethics.
Abstract
Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) is an increasingly popular technique in Social work, providing clients with emotional, psychological, and social advantages. However, adopting animals into therapeutic settings has peculiar ethical issues. Social workers must prioritise not only their clients' well-being, but also the safety and well-being of the animals involved. This article explores the ethical concerns in Animal-Assisted Therapy from a social work perspective, emphasising the importance of balancing human and animal welfare, following the professional code of conduct, and encouraging responsible and compassionate methods.
References
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13. Nammalwar, R. B., & Rangeeth, P. (2018). A bite out of anxiety: Evaluation of animal-assisted activity on anxiety in children attending a pediatric dental outpatient unit. Journal of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, 36(2), 181–184. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29970636
14. National Association of Social Workers (NASW). (2021). Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. NASW Press.
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16. O'Haire, M. E., Guérin, N. A., & Kirkham, A. C. (2015). Animal-Assisted Intervention for trauma: A systematic literature review—Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 1121.
17. Serpell, J. A., McCune, S., Gee, N., & Griffin, J. A. (2020). Current challenges to research on animal-assisted interventions. Applied Developmental Science, 24(2), 223–235. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888691.2018.1543660
18. Serpell, J., McCune, S., Gee, N., & Griffin, J. A. (Eds.). (2017). Current issues and research in human-animal interaction. Purdue University Press.
19. Tedeschi, P., Fine, A. H., & Helgeson, J. I. (2010). Assistance animals: Their evolving role in psychiatric service applications. In A. H. Fine (Ed.), Handbook on animal-assisted therapy: Theoretical foundations and guidelines for practice (3rd ed., pp. 421–438). Academic Press.
20. Walsh, F. (2009). Human-animal bonds I: The relational significance of companion animals. Family process, 48(4), 462-480.
21. Walsh, F. (2009). Human–animal bonds II: The role of pets in family systems and family therapy. Family Process, 48(4), 481–499. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1545-5300.2009.01297.
22. Arkow, P. (2020). Human–Animal Relationships and Social Work: Opportunities Beyond the Veterinary Environment. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 573–588. doi:10.1007/s10560-020-00697-x
23. Human-Animal Interactions Ethics Workgroup. (2021). Summary of Considerations for APA Ethical Standards. Human-Animal Interactions Ethics Workgroup.
24. M.A., K. A., & M.A., L. C. (2016). Ethical and Safety Considerations for Use of Animals in a Therapeutic Setting. The Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy. doi:https://societyforpsychotherapy.org/ethical-safety-considerations-use-animals-therapeutic-setting/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
25. Narvekar , H. N. (2021). A Reflection on the Current Status of Animal-Assisted Therapy in India. National Library of Medicine, 1-16. doi:10.1007/s42087-021-00250-x
26. NG, Z. Y., & Fine, A. H. (2019). Considerations for the Retirement of Therapy Animals. Animals. doi:10.3390/ani9121100
27. Peralta, J. M., & Fine, A. H. (2021). The Welfare of Animals in Animal-Assisted Interventions - Foundations and Best Practice Methods. California: Springer Nature. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-69587-3?utm_source=chatgpt.com#publish-with-us
28. Rawlings, J. M. (2021). Ethics of Animal-Assisted Interventions. The Welfare of Animals in Animal-Assisted Interventions, 43–57. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-69587-3_3?utm_source=chatgpt.com
2. Arkow, P. (Ed.). (2020). The link between animal abuse and human violence. Springer.
3. Bachi, K. (2018). The “Other” in the Room: The Ethical Triangle of Animal-Assisted Therapy. Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics, 15(1), 34-43.
4. Beck, A. M., & Katcher, A. H. (2003). Future directions in human–animal bond research. American Behavioural Scientist, 47(1), 79–93.
5. Boetto, H. (2017). A transformative eco-social model: A new vision for social work. British Journal of Social Work, 47(1), 40–56.
6. Fine, A. H. (2019). Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy: Foundations and Guidelines for Animal-Assisted Interventions (5th ed.). Academic Press.
7. Fine, A. H. (2019). Handbook on animal-assisted therapy: Foundations and guidelines for animal-assisted interventions (5th ed.). Academic Press.
8. Glenk, L. M. (2017). Current perspectives on therapy dog welfare in animal-assisted interventions. Animals, 7(2), 7.
9. Hanrahan, C. (2011). Challenging anthropocentric social work: Opportunities for sustainability and environmental justice. Critical Social Work, 12(1), 8–21. https://doi.org/10.22329/csw.v12i1.5846
10. Jegatheesan, B., Beetz, A., Ormerod, E., Johnson, R., Fine, A., & Yamazaki, K. (2014). The need for cross-cultural perspectives in animal-assisted interventions: Programs, interventions, and ethical considerations. In A. H. Fine (Ed.), Handbook on animal-assisted therapy (4th ed., pp. 375–390). Academic Press.
11. Kruger, K. A., & Serpell, J. A. (2010). Animal-assisted interventions in mental health: Definitions and theoretical foundations. In A. H. Fine (Ed.), Handbook on animal-assisted therapy: Theoretical foundations and guidelines for practice (3rd ed., pp. 33–48). Academic Press.
12. Kruger, K. A., & Serpell, J. A. (2010). Animal-assisted interventions in mental health: Definitions and theoretical foundations. In A. H. Fine (Ed.), Handbook on animal-assisted therapy (3rd ed., pp. 33–48). Academic Press.
13. Nammalwar, R. B., & Rangeeth, P. (2018). A bite out of anxiety: Evaluation of animal-assisted activity on anxiety in children attending a pediatric dental outpatient unit. Journal of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, 36(2), 181–184. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29970636
14. National Association of Social Workers (NASW). (2021). Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. NASW Press.
15. Nimer, J., & Lundahl, B. (2007). Animal-assisted therapy: A meta-analysis. Anthrozoös, 20(3), 225–238. https://doi.org/10.2752/089279307X224773
16. O'Haire, M. E., Guérin, N. A., & Kirkham, A. C. (2015). Animal-Assisted Intervention for trauma: A systematic literature review—Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 1121.
17. Serpell, J. A., McCune, S., Gee, N., & Griffin, J. A. (2020). Current challenges to research on animal-assisted interventions. Applied Developmental Science, 24(2), 223–235. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888691.2018.1543660
18. Serpell, J., McCune, S., Gee, N., & Griffin, J. A. (Eds.). (2017). Current issues and research in human-animal interaction. Purdue University Press.
19. Tedeschi, P., Fine, A. H., & Helgeson, J. I. (2010). Assistance animals: Their evolving role in psychiatric service applications. In A. H. Fine (Ed.), Handbook on animal-assisted therapy: Theoretical foundations and guidelines for practice (3rd ed., pp. 421–438). Academic Press.
20. Walsh, F. (2009). Human-animal bonds I: The relational significance of companion animals. Family process, 48(4), 462-480.
21. Walsh, F. (2009). Human–animal bonds II: The role of pets in family systems and family therapy. Family Process, 48(4), 481–499. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1545-5300.2009.01297.
22. Arkow, P. (2020). Human–Animal Relationships and Social Work: Opportunities Beyond the Veterinary Environment. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 573–588. doi:10.1007/s10560-020-00697-x
23. Human-Animal Interactions Ethics Workgroup. (2021). Summary of Considerations for APA Ethical Standards. Human-Animal Interactions Ethics Workgroup.
24. M.A., K. A., & M.A., L. C. (2016). Ethical and Safety Considerations for Use of Animals in a Therapeutic Setting. The Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy. doi:https://societyforpsychotherapy.org/ethical-safety-considerations-use-animals-therapeutic-setting/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
25. Narvekar , H. N. (2021). A Reflection on the Current Status of Animal-Assisted Therapy in India. National Library of Medicine, 1-16. doi:10.1007/s42087-021-00250-x
26. NG, Z. Y., & Fine, A. H. (2019). Considerations for the Retirement of Therapy Animals. Animals. doi:10.3390/ani9121100
27. Peralta, J. M., & Fine, A. H. (2021). The Welfare of Animals in Animal-Assisted Interventions - Foundations and Best Practice Methods. California: Springer Nature. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-69587-3?utm_source=chatgpt.com#publish-with-us
28. Rawlings, J. M. (2021). Ethics of Animal-Assisted Interventions. The Welfare of Animals in Animal-Assisted Interventions, 43–57. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-69587-3_3?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Published
2022-12-30
How to Cite
M Sivamoorthy, K. Umadevi, & Gayathri Ranjith. (2022). Social Work Ethics And Animal-Assisted Therapy: Balancing Human And Animal Welfare. Revista Electronica De Veterinaria, 23(4), 210-214. https://doi.org/10.69980/redvet.v23i4.2148
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