ABSTRACT
I grew up surrounded by cats, dogs, rabbits, roosters, and fish, but the most influential for me were dogs. When I went to college to study psychology, I questioned if there were psychologists interested in our relationships with companion animals, and if any have wondered about the possible benefits of integrating animals in their work. For me this was not mere curiosity, but a topic worth studying. I started researching and I was surprised to find that, in fact, there was work on this topic. I found Dr. Boris Levinson’s pet-oriented child psychotherapy book and the Delta Society Organization’s work (now known as Pet Partners) and felt that I had a found a place where I belonged. I felt that I too could contribute to the study of the human-animal bond, and, ideally, could practice AAP.
