Research uses animal interactions to improve offender wellbeing and therapeutic outcomes.

Not many owners can say their dog has a favourite inmate, but I can. He’s 6’3″, over 250lbs, and an absolute pushover when it comes to giving her treats. They’ve built a relationship together, I’m just the third wheel, but I get a kick out of knowing that she brings him happiness, contentment, and just a little bit of normalcy in a system that can be overwhelming.

In recent years, the drive to improve prisoners’ mental health and rehabilitation prospects has led to the integration of a number of therapeutic interventions, including animal therapy. Animal therapy uses animal interactions to help improve therapeutic outcomes by creating a safe and supportive atmosphere. Animal interactions offer a unique form of social support, free from the fear of judgement. For this reason, recent research has investigated the benefits of animal therapy on prisoner wellbeing.

New research into the value of animal therapy

The study recruited 8 participants from a Category B local remand prison to take part in 4-7 sessions of animal therapy. During the sessions, the therapist encouraged the prisoners to interact with the animals and explained their history, including if they were rescues with traumatic pasts. The types of animals included in the program extended beyond what is typically used, including snakes, insects, dogs, and chinchillas, so researchers could investigate a broader range of therapeutic interactions.

Following the animal therapy sessions, semi-structured interviews were conducted which asked participants about their motivations for attending, how they were feeling before the sessions, how they had found the sessions, and how the sessions made them feel about themselves and others. The content of these interviews was then analysed, revealing five core themes, improved relationships, affect regulation, shared experiences of trauma, a sense of purpose, and enhanced self-identity.

Improved Relationships

Participants reported that having an animal present helped them develop and maintain relationships between family members and other prisoners by bridging gaps that the prison environment often exacerbates.

“It opened up a line of communication, it was something else to talk about, so it wasn’t
just all what goes on on the wing. It was like sort of another branch of the olive tree so to speak.”

Affect Regulation

This theme captured an uplift in mood and emotional regulation which participants mentioned after interacting with the animals.

“I have still got my anxiety and a bit of depression, but I haven’t thought about taking my own life for some time.”

Shared Experiences of Trauma

Participants also spoke about the animals’ survival stories, which they viewed as mirroring their own struggles, leading to increased empathy and connection.

“Most of those animals have been mistreated a lot of them so it’s like I’m bonding with
them on an emotional level. I’ve been through similar; I know how that animal feels. This is the reason why I have changed what I want to do when I am released.”

Sense of Purpose

Engaging in animal therapy gave participants a sense of purpose, encouraging healthier behaviours and setting goals for the future which are important for successful rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

“It gives you a better attitude. Because it’s an incentive as well in the back of my head,
although I’m not thinking if I don’t behave, I won’t be able to go obviously, it’s there as
an incentive to keep on the straight and narrow in prison.”

Enhanced Self-Identity

Finally, this theme captured an enhancement in self-identity that participants highlighted by reducing their feelings of worthlessness and rediscovering their value as individuals.

“I used to think I was like small and worth nothing, but the Animal Therapy sessions
make me think that I am something and I can do things.”

The future of animal therapy

The findings of this study highlight the multifaceted benefits of animal therapy on prisoners, and its effectiveness within a prison environment. The core themes mentioned by participants suggest that animal therapy not only improves the effectiveness of therapy and prisoner wellbeing, but could also contribute to a more positive and rehabilitative prison environment. As prisons continue to face challenges, animal therapy offers a practical way to improve inmates’ mental health.

Key study findings:

• Animal interactions positively impacted relationships, with family members and other prisoners
• Participants experienced an uplift in mood, as well as a reduction in negative self-identity
• They also felt empathy and connection to the animals, identifying that they had both experienced trauma
• The animals gave prisoners a sense of purpose, which promoted healthy behaviours