For this paper I am studying about pet therapy programs for children to promote child welfare. There are many terms used to describe ways in which animals can help rehabilitate and heal children. These include pet therapy, pet facilitated therapy, or animal-assisted therapy. Pets can help people with a variety of mental, emotional, and physical disabilities. Fish, birds, pocket pets, rabbits, cats, dogs, and horses have all been employed in pet therapy. For this paper I researched the Delta Society. Delta Society is the leading international resource for the human-animal bond. Delta Society has been the force to validate the important role of animals for people's health and well-being by promoting the results of research to the media and health and human services organizations.
             The Delta Foundation was established in 1977 in Portland, Oregon, under the leadership of Michael McCulloch, MD. Delta's first president was Leo K. Bustad, DVM, PhD, dean of a veterinary college and a pioneer in human-animal bond theory and application. Delta's founders wanted to understand the quality of the relationship between pet owners, pets, and care givers, both human and veterinary. At that time, pets were not of central importance to individual health and well-being. Delta's early years focused on funding the first credible research on why animals are important to the general population and specifically how they affect health and well being. Early Delta members were primarily from the veterinary and human health professions and from university faculties.
             The health benefits of animal's activities are the first point of contact for most people with Delta Society. Members of the public call or write, often after reading one of their publications. The People & Pets activities focus on the role of companion animals in the everyday lives of people. Delta educates the public on the ways a strong human-animal relationship helps people maintain g...