Innovation: Animal Care Foundation

Netherlands

AAI Domains:

• Independent, healthy and secure living (improving access to health services, physical exercise, mental well-being)

• Participation in society (social connectedness)

It is a common part of many people’s lives to own a pet, often a dog or a cat but also all kinds of domesticated animals, and they get great enjoyment from the experience. Cats and dogs provide companionship, affection and the latter often require daily walks that provide abundant opportunities for physical exercise and meeting fellow dog owners.

However, for some people as they grow older pet ownership becomes too demanding for them or if they become frail and need to enter institutional care they may not be able to keep a pet. People with mental health issues or learning disabilities can also feel a connection to a pet animal that can have a beneficial effect on their health and well-being.

The Animal Care Foundation was founded in 2003 with the aim of developing stronger links between pets and their owners with people who could benefit from this form of contact. The Foundation was inspired by the work of Jan van Summeren on Animal Assisted Interventions in the USA and Italy based on the principles of social support theory; that supportive resources such as companionship or emotional nurturing can help people to cope with stressful situations.

The Foundation recruits, trains and supports volunteer pet owners to take their animal on a weekly visit to a person in one of the three main target groups. There is a three day training course for volunteers and their pets covering the special needs of their clients, how to deal with the sometimes challenging behaviour of clients, health and safety, dealing with confidential data as well as the detection and prevention of stress in their pet. Volunteers have to pass an examination, be assessed by the trainers as being suitable for the programme and make a commitment to participate for the course fees to be waived.

The Foundation works in partnership with Dutch health care and special educational institutions to provide this therapeutic service to suitable clients. The Foundation’s work was recognised with the award of a prize for innovation in 2005 and in 2007 as the programme expanded through a combination of voluntary effort, public donations and corporate sponsorship. The Foundation also collaborated with the University of Utrecht on a series of research studies that found the clients benefited from the fun, relaxation, social interaction and opportunities for physical activity that weekly pet visits offered.

There is evidence to indicate that it has a calming effect that lowers the heart rate and blood pressure, encourages empathy, has a positive effect on self-esteem, confidence and motivation. The Foundation now has approximately 60 Animal Care teams operating across the Netherlands involving more than 240 volunteers and their pets supported by a team of 40 professionals and volunteers with further expansion planned.

In terms of the active ageing index, the Animal Care Foundation’s teams provide volunteering opportunities to pet owners that are fulfilling and rewarding. The therapeutic benefits provide a valuable form of care to older adults and children with learning disabilities that can help them cope with their life situation. The visits involve walking the dog with the owner, providing an opportunity for physical exercise and there is a growing body of evidence indicating that this pet therapy also improves mental well-being. This form of sharing the benefits of pet ownership also builds stronger social connections between volunteers and clients that are likely to have positive effects.

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