Animals to Humanize Care: Ethics of Care and Accounts of Canine Zootherapy with Residents of Long-Term Care Facilities

Abstract

In animal assisted therapy, people can both benefit from interactions and relationships with a human and an animal. This text presents some anecdotal experiences to illustrate how pet therapy can contribute to the social and emotional well-being of patients. This text emphasizes that our social nature makes an ethics of care possible for caregivers and necessary for patients, all while drawing a parallel between the skills of my dogs and my own. I also plead for us not neglect the socio-emotional needs of patients.