Agape Ranch Hawaii

Research & Resources: Animals that Heal

Animals as Teachers and Healers: True Stories and Reflections (Ballantine Books, 1998). By Susan Chernak McElroy. As a cancer survivor, McElroy reflects with tenderness about how her dog, Kisha, who, ironically, was lost to a similar cancer, taught her to appreciate each moment in life.

Between Pets and People: The Importance of Animal Companionship (Purdue University Press, 1996). By Alan M. Beck & Aaron Katcher. The authors, who were the original investigators of well known studies, show that physical and emotional health can be improved with human-animal interaction.

Creature Comfort: Animals that Heal (Prometheus Books, 2000). By Bernie Graham. Celebrates the beneficial effects that animals have on humans and describes how their therapeutic potential is being increasingly acknowledged by the medical community.

Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy: Theoretical Foundations and Guidelines for Practice (Academic Press, 2000). Edited by Aubrey H. Fine. The work includes guidelines and best practices for using dogs, cats, and other animals as therapeutic companions with specific populations (e.g., children, the disabled, AIDS patients) and in various settings (hospitals, prisons, independent practice).

The Healing Power of Pets: Harnessing the Ability of Pets to Make and Keep People Happy and Healthy (Hyperion, 2002). By Dr. Marty Becker. Increasingly, medicine is recognizing the special relationship between pets and people as one of the most powerful weapons in fighting disease and treating chronic conditions.

You Have a Visitor: Observations on Pet Visitation and Therapy (Blue Lamm Publishers, 2000). By Renee Lamm Esordi. The same joy and comfort animals provide at home can also benefit the eager patient or resident who awaits a visit from a volunteer and their pet.

Agape Ranch, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization.