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In the 60-ties the concept of the therapy with the use
of animals was launched by Boris Levinson, a children’s therapist. He noticed
that his little patients enjoyed playing with his dog when they came to him for
a psychotherapy. In 1969 he used
the term “pet- therapy”.
However, canistherapy has ancient roots.
In Ancient Egypt dogs were sacred symbols of goddess Gula, an outstanding healer, as well
as of other gods responsible for healing. Dogs also made company for Marduk, the
main god of the ancient Babylon. In the Antique Greece dogs played a key role in the cult of Asclepius,
son of Apollo and the god of healing. Asclepius came to his patients sometimes
as a man sometimes as a snake or a dog who licked wounds.
Saints of the early
Christianity were often painted with dogs who had healed them.
In the late XVIII century zootherapy was used in England
in the psychiatric clinic “York Retriete” A lot of various animals were
kept by the clinic: dogs, cats, rabbits, birds. Patients were involved in taking
care of the animals and communicated with them. The head of the clinic
considered that patients believed in their
own forces when they took care of those who were weaker.
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A little later in Germany one of the hospitals for
healing of epilepsy started to use animals. This hospital for 5 thousands of
patients still works and kept two cattle farms, horses for riding, a lot of
small animals.
Dr. Levinson was far from being the first who
discovered the effective positive
results of communication with animals. However he made a great contribution as he founded scientifically the use of animals
in healing and attracted attention to this method.
Karsons were among the first who actively supported the
idea and developed a program “Psychotherapy
with the help of pets” in the Ohio University.
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