Animal Assisted Interventions: Scope, challenges and limitations

Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI) comprise Activities, Therapy and Education Assisted by Animals. This is a growing area which is receiving increased attention from the general public, health professionals and the scientific community. These interventions imply the interaction of animals with people of different ages and characteristics. The aim of this work is to carry out a conceptual analysis on this topic based on published reviews and metanalyses. The themes covered include efficacy of AAI and a summary of some of the methodological limitations of these studies, as well as ideas for future research. In addition, the characteristics of the animals will be considered, as well as their welfare during these tasks. In conclusion, even though research on this area is incipient and has some methodological weaknesses, results are encouraging. AAI are a promising field which warrants further research.