CRITICISMS

With such a diverse range of benefits, why isn't pet therapy more widely encountered?

Although evidence supports pet therapy, there is also concern about health, such as infection control—especillay zoonoses, which is defined as any infectious disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans (Green, n.d.). Additional concerns arise, particularly when people in long term care are regularly exposed to pet therapy— such as patients believing that an animal has rejected them (usually because the patient has unrealistic expectations of an animal’s behavior) which can lead low self-esteem in those patients (Green, n.d.).

Confusion and misrepresentation

Pet therapy dogs are often confused with Emotional Support Animals (ESA), which are dogs (or other common domestic animals) that provide therapeutic support to a physically challenged or elderly owner through companionship, non-judgmental positive regard, affection, and a focus in life. If a doctor determines that a patient with a disabling mental illness would benefit from the companionship of an emotional support animal, the doctor can write letters supporting a request by the patient to keep the ESA in "no pets" housing or to travel with the ESA in the cabin of an aircraft. ESAs are not task trained like service dogs are and not certified as therapy dogs are. In fact, little training at all is required, so long as the animal is reasonably well behaves. The term therapy dog is often confused with ESA, and this misconception is leading to a misplaced bad reputation.

Reference

Green, B. (n.d.). An Unusual Visitor. Retrieved September 11, 2015 from http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/768384_3

Service Dog Central. (n.d.). Emotional Support animals. Retrieved September 12, 2015 from http://servicedogcentral.org/content/node/256