Clinician's Guide to Treating Companion Animal Issues

Addressing Human-Animal Interaction

Lori R. Kogan, Christopher Blazina

• Publisher: Academic Press
• Year: 2018
• ISBN:
  9780128129630
• Topic: Psychology
• Subtopic: Clinical Psychology
• Index: Psychology

Clinician's Guide to Treating Animal Companion Issues: Addressing Human-Animal Interaction is the first of its kind—a groundbreaking resource for mental health professionals who want the knowledge, skills and awareness to successfully work with pet-owning clients. The book trains clinicians across multiple disciplines to feel more comfortable and confident addressing companion-related issues—both when those issues are the primary reason for seeking therapy or a critical component in better understanding client needs. The book uses current human-animal interactions theories as a foundation to explore pet-related issues utilizing behavioral, cognitive behavioral, family systems, humanistic and contemporary psychodynamic therapeutic orientations.

Users will find sections on the many issues that arise during the lifespan of pet owners (e.g., children, young adults, elderly), as well as issues pertinent to specific populations (e.g., men, homeless, ethnically diverse). Additional topics include the violence link, pet death and bereavement, and behavioral issues. As the first book to approach human-animal interactions (HAI) from a multi-theoretical perspective, it helps clinicians appropriately acknowledge and incorporate relevant HAI issues within therapy to achieve goals.

• Provides practical information for immediate use in practice
• Focuses on common issues relating to companion animals
• Addresses bereavement, attachment, behavior, and more
• Includes interactive readings, case studies and therapeutic exercises
• Contains multiple theoretical orientations (behavioral, cognitive behavioral, family systems, humanistic and psychodynamic approaches)

Chapter 1

The Human-Animal Bond Over the Lifespan: A Primer for Mental Health Professionals

Aubrey H. Fine California Poly State University, Pomona, CA, United States

Abstract

Within this introductory chapter, an explanation will be given highlighting the significance of the human-animal bond (HAB). Specifically, within this chapter, emphasis will be presented providing a clear definition of HAB. Attention will also be given to discuss the theoretical underpinnings of why these relationships are so valued.

Keywords

Human-animal bond; American Veterinary Medical Association; Kinship; Attachment theory; Social support theory; Biophillia; Health benefits

In the early 1970s, Carole King wrote a song called Anticipation. For some, the anticipated moment or event seems teasingly beyond occurrence. Waiting for June 30 to arrive was one of those occasions. I had been looking forward to that day for close to 7 months. What started as a devastating period with the passing of our oldest Golden Retriever (a moment we were not waiting for), eventually lead to a happier moment with meeting our new puppy. There was a tremendous sense of loss in the family when our oldest Golden passed away. Although we knew she had cancer, one is never really ready for the end. The loss was felt not only by my wife and me but also by our younger dog who was five. She seemed devastated by the death of her pal. She had lost her best friend and constant playmate. Although impossible to replace a departed soul, in our hearts we knew eventually we would be ready to welcome a new puppy into our family. For several months, we didn’t even want to think about getting another dog, but eventually our hearts began to heal and we felt ready. Anticipation was an appropriate description of our mindset as we waited for the day we would pick up our new puppy. We shopped for her and got everything ready for the big day. Carole King couldn’t have written a song with a better title that reflected the yearning we felt deeply within our souls. On June 29, while we were flying to Phoenix, Arizona to pick her up, many images went through our minds. Images of bittersweet memories of our beloved Magic came to our minds, along with excitement about meeting our new four-legged friend. Who would have fathomed that a pet could have so much meaning to two adults. But this puppy represented a new chapter in our lives together. We named our new puppy Mystic, in honor of our dog who passed away earlier that year. Her name was Magic.

This narrative was selected to begin this chapter because it highlights the significance that many people feel about their animals. This was a personal story that just occurred recently for my wife and me. Although personal, the experience is representative of outcomes that many families experience when losing a beloved family companion animal or anticipate acquiring a new pet. Understanding the roles that animals have in our lives is an opportunity that mental health providers should understand/consider as they support and treat individuals and families. Clinicians should become more aware of the fact that for many of their clients, their pets are an integral part of their being. Understanding this and the roles that these animals have (good or bad) can provide practitioners with a window into their clients’ homes and psyches. What was once only considered a simple curiosity or perhaps misdirected love, relationships with companion animals has blossomed into a serious and respected course of inquiry that can help inform us about our client’s relationships with not only their pets, but other human connections. Today, science is discovering that our pets can be good for our both physical and mental well-being.

Within this introductory chapter, I plan to provide an explanation of the significance of the human-animal bond (HAB). Specifically, we will go over the definition of HAB as well as providing a few theoretical explanations of why these relationships come into existence.

Companion Animals in Our Lives

Over the years, pet ownership has grown in America. According to the 2017–2018 American Pet Products Association (APPA) National Pet Owner Survey, 68% of households own a pet, which equates to about 84.6 million homes. In fact, in 1988, when the first survey was conducted by APPA, only 56% of US households owned a pet, so we see a growth of about 12% in close to 30 years. Tables 1–5 provide a breakdown on the various dimensions of pet ownership in the United States for 2017–2018. Table 1 identifies that dogs are in approximately 60.2 million US households, while cats are in 47.1 million households in the United States. Table 2 clarifies the actual breakdown of the total number of pets in the United States. Although cats are in less US homes, there are more cats than dogs in the United States. There are 89.7 million dogs in our homes while there are 94.2 million cats. Other species of animals are identified in Table 2.

Table 1

Breakdown of Pet Ownership in the United States: Number of US Households That Own a Pet

Type of animal	Number of US households that own a pet (millions)
Bird	7.9
Cat	47.1
Dog	60.2
Horse	2.6
Fresh water fish	12.5
Salt water fish	2.5
Reptile	4.6
Small animals	6.7

Table 2

Breakdown of Pet Ownership in the United States: Total Number of Pets Owned in the United States

Type of animal	Total number of pets owned in the United States (millions)
Bird	20.3
Cat	94.2
Dog	89.7
Horse	7.6
Fresh water fish	139.3
Salt water fish	18.8
Reptile	9.4
Small animal	14.0

Table 3

Actual Sales Within the US Market in 2016

Purchase	Purchase cost (in billion dollars)
Food	28.23
Supplies/OTC medicine	14.71
Vet care	15.95
Live animal purchases	2.1
Pet services: grooming & boarding	5.76

In 2016, $66.75 billion was spent on our pets in the United States.

Table 4

Estimated 2017 Sales Within the US Market

Purchase	Estimated purchase cost (in billion dollars)
Food	29.69
Supplies/OTC medicine	14.93
Vet care	l6.62
Live animal purchases	2.01
Pet services: grooming & boarding	6.11

For 2017, it estimated that $69.36 billion will be spent on our pets in the United States.

Table 5

Total US Pet Industry Expenditures

Year	Billions dollars
2017	69.36 Estimated
2016	66.75 Actual
2015	60.28
2014	58.04
2013	55.72
2012	53.33
2011	50.96
2010	48.35
2009	45.53
2008	43.2
2007	41.2
2006	38.5
2005	36.3
2004	34.4
2003	32.4
2002	29.6
2001	28.5
1998	23
1996	21
1994	17

Tables 3 and 4 look at the expenditures people make in caring for their pets. As can be seen in the table, the most significant expenditure is food, which accounts for close to $29 billion annually. Finally, Table 5 offers details on the total annual expenditures for all expenses related to pet caring. The APPA estimates that in 2017, $69 billion will have been spent on animal care. These tables provide a glimpse of the growing importance and value that animals have in the lives of many citizens in the United States.

The literature is filled with data suggesting that pets are more likely to be found in households with children than in any other household configuration. Fine (2014) points out that most parents acquire animals for their children in the belief that pets can teach lessons of responsibility and nurturing while also providing a source for companionship and love. Fine (2014) points out that most parents reveal that children maintain high levels of daily involvement in caring for, and playing with family pets as they grow from preschoolers to teens. These interactions appear to stay consistent even though other dimensions of children’s family time decreases as they age. Pets appear to help strengthen and maintain family ties.

It is important to point out that many people are so engaged in having pets in their lives that they consider their pets as their children, and refer to themselves as “mommies” and “daddies.” They also talk to their pets using mother-ese or what some call “baby talk” (Archer, 1997), a type of talk...

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Copyright
• Contributors
• Editors’ Biography
• An Introduction for the Clinician’s Guide to Treating Animal Companion Issues: How Mental Health Professionals Address Human-Animal Interaction in Clinical Practice
• Chapter 1: The Human-Animal Bond Over the Lifespan: A Primer for Mental Health Professionals
• Chapter 2: Animals and Children’s Development: Expanding the Circle for Psychotherapy
• Chapter 3: Dog Bites to Children: Family Interventions and Prevention Strategies
• Chapter 4: Adolescents and Pets
• Chapter 5: Providing Guidance on Psychiatric Service Dogs and Emotional Support Animals
• Chapter 6: Eight Domains of Pet-Owner Wellness: Implications for Counselors and Counselor Training
• Chapter 7: Pets and the Therapeutic Process
• Chapter 8: Understanding Cross-Species Parenting: A Case for Pets as Children
• Chapter 9: Caregiving for Adult Pet Owners
• Chapter 10: The Role of Pets in the Personal Communities of People Living With Long-Term Conditions
• Chapter 11: Pets and Relationships: How Animals Help Us Understand Ourselves and Our Connections With Others
• Chapter 12: How Connections With Companion Animals Impact Relationships With Self and Intimate Others
• Chapter 13: Working With Men and Their Dogs: How Context Informs Clinical Practice When the Bond Is Present in Males' Lives
• Chapter 14: Integrating Clients' Animals in Clinical Practice: Insights from an Animal-Informed Therapist
• Chapter 15: Persons Experiencing Prolonged Grief After the Loss of a Pet
• Chapter 16: Helping Clients Facing Behavior Problems in Their Companion Animals
• Chapter 17: The “Dark Side” of the Human-Animal Bond
• Chapter 18: Animal Abuse Issues in Psychotherapy
• Chapter 19: Homelessness and Animal Companionship
• Chapter 20: The Impact of Equine Ownership in Psychotherapy
• Chapter 21: Issues in Serious Veterinary Illness and End-of-Life Care
• Chapter 22: Considerations in Counseling Veterinarians: Addressing Suffering in Those Who Care for Animals
• Chapter 23: Following the Loss of a Companion Animal: Aftercare and Pet Loss Support
• Chapter 24: The Human-Animal Bond and Hispanic Clients in the United States
• Chapter 25: Pets and Human Diversity: Toward Culturally Competent, Culturally Humble Psychotherapy
• Chapter 26: Pets and Older Adults: The Role of Occupational Therapy Practitioners
• Chapter 27: Compassion Fatigue: Presenting Issues and Practical Applications for Animal-Caring Professionals
• Chapter 28: The Ethics of Competency in Human-Animal Relationships
• Index