Improving Mental Health Through Animal-Assisted Therapy

The Chimo Project concept was founded in 1999 by Dennis Anderson who, at that time, was the President of the Canadian Mental Health Association in Alberta. The Chimo Project is named after Dennis’s animal friend “Chimo,” a Blue Heeler/Labrador cross. Because Dennis has personally experienced the psychological benefits of human-animal interactions, he aspired to obtain evidence that animals may be beneficial in the treatment of persons with mental health concerns. The name Chimo comes from the Inuit toast to “good cheer”, which is what the project hopes to bring to those suffering from mental illness. Three organizations formed the original Chimo Advisory committee: 1) The Canadian Mental Health Association; 2) The Edmonton Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; and 3) The Pet Therapy Society of Northern Alberta. Through a series of meetings, and with the advice of therapists, the committee developed the backbone for the current project. Discussions also revolved around a potential second project that would concentrate on pet ownership by persons with mental health problems. In early 2001, an application was made to the Alberta Health and Wellness’ Health Innovation Fund for financial support. This application was approved and the eighteen-month project began in May of the same year. Today, a professional advisory committee (with various therapists, animal experts, and a lawyer) and a general advisory committee (with various representatives from the founding organizations) provide useful insight for the small staff of the project. The Canadian Mental Health Association and Bosco Homes have been the recipients of the funding through the Health Innovation Fund and are generally responsible for the administration of the project. The Project has also received approval from The Health Research Ethics Board at the University of Alberta. A dog has one aim in life. To bestow his heart. -- J.R. One of the goals of The Chimo Project is to identify various ways that animals can effectively be used in the treatment of mental illness. Currently, there have been limited scientific studies conducted to determine the effectiveness of Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT). It is anticipated that information obtained from The Chimo Project may be useful in developing curricula on using AAT as an adjunct to other therapeutic modalities. The results may also be useful in helping to set up AAT programs in conjunction with various mental health facilities. Furthermore, the results may lead to exploration of ways in which barriers to animal ownership can be reduced for appropriate mental health consumers. 1.1 The Human-Animal Bond Animals and humans have shared a special relationship since pre-historic times. Cave paintings indicate that the earliest human-animal relationships may have occurred between wolves and cavemen. Archaeologists suggest that, over 10,000 years ago, the wolf/dog was the first animal to be domesticated. The dog played a large role in hunting and carrying loads, but there is little doubt that real human-dog relationships began the first time a dog responded to a pat on the head with a wagging tail. Man has shared significant relationships with many types of animals and has experienced physical and emotional benefits because of them. For example, the Ancient Greeks used hippotherapy (i.e., physical therapy on horseback) to rehabilitate injured soldiers. Then, about 5,000 years ago, Egyptians tamed African tabby wildcats to hunt mice and rats. Cats went on to be pampered and worshipped. They were known to eat from the same plate as their owners, wear valuable jewelry, and be well taken care of medically. In fact, ancient Egyptians believed that cats were immortal and would make special efforts to preserve cats’ bodies after death so their souls would have a place to return to. Oftentimes, after death, the cat was embalmed and put in a coffin that contained food for the cat’s soul. The coffin was then buried in a sacred vault along the banks of the Nile (Dale-Green, 1963). A story is told of how a Persian army once won victory over Egyptians by taking advantage of their reverence for cats. The Persians were besieging an Egyptian fort when their king had the brilliant idea of ordering his soldiers to throw live cats over the walls. The defending troops apparently allowed the city to be captured, rather than risk injuring the animals they knew to be sacred and which they suspected to be divine.