Lucinda Miller
Program Leader/Director
Small Animals/Youth-Companion Animal Interaction
4-H Youth Development, OSU Extension
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Pets as volunteers are a novel concept. Human-animal companion interaction is a relatively new field of research study. Companion animals are domesticated animals offering companionship to humans. They provide humans with company and friendship. People develop relationships with animals reflective of their personalities and attitudes (Veevers,1985).
Robinson (1995) compares the relationship that develops with companion animals to that which develops between human companions. This human-animal relationship can vary in intensity and form in a similar way.
There are many differing opinions and no one consensus on the definition of a volunteer (Ellis and Noyes, 1990). Historically, a volunteer is one who enters into or offers himself or herself for a service of his or her own free will (Safrit, 2001). Other characteristics of a volunteer, according to Ellis and Noyes, are that of positive social action, performing an act without coercion andgoing beyond one's basic obligations.
People volunteer with pets through animal-assisted activities and animal-assisted therapy. The Delta Society (1992) defines animal-assisted activities (AAA) as those, which "provide opportunities for motivational, educational,recreational, and/or therapeutic benefits to enhance the quality of life. Animal-assisted activities are delivered in a variety of environments by specially trained professionals, para-professionals, and/or volunteers, in association with animals that meet specific criteria " (p.3).
Animal-assisted activities are essentially the informal meet-and-greet activities that involve the human and pet team visiting people. The same activity can be repeated with many people (Delta Society, 1999). A group of volunteers taking pets to a nursing home once a month is an example of an animal-assisted activity. Other examples of AAA would be a volunteer bringing his or her dog to ajuvenile detention center to interact with the youth, or a couple of high school students taking their pets to a hospital to entertain the children.
I realize that pets do not consciously understand they are volunteering. I also realize that a human must take them to visit. However, I have a Pembroke Welsh Corgi and Cardigan Welsh Corgi [dogs] who are certified to visit nursinghomes and other similar facilities. They have been tested for their skills and aptitudes to make certain they are predictable and inspire confidence while visiting. Every time they visit (volunteer?)they each wear a bandana. When I show them their bandanas, they get so excited and happy because they know they are going to visit people, get lots of petting, and maybe a treat or two. When visiting,I believe they sense they are making someone happy or helping someone. I alwaysmonitor their stress levels. If they ever get to the point that visiting is something they no longer like, I should be able to tell from their body postures and displacement signals. They are never forced to visit. Sometimes my one Corgi brings me his bandana and I know what he wants. I guess it's anthropomorphic, but he is telling me it's time to volunteer (Miller,February 2,2001).
I believe that people who have pets living in their house consider their pets a part of their family. As I draw my conclusions, let's look at some components of the various definitions of volunteers and volunteerism. Components supporting pets as volunteers include: serving without pay ... not done primarily for monetary compensation or material gain ... not paid for services ... positivesocial action ...going beyond one's basic obligations ... not based on obligation ... activity intended to help others ... benefit of others ... can see what others cannot see ... can feel what most do not feel ... who contributes time. Pets, especially dogs, which are the most common animals who contribute time volunteering, are not paid for their services. They go beyond their basic obligationsas a family pet and their volunteering is proven as positive social action to help others. Pets have the uncanny sixth sense to see and feel what others cannotand relay those feelings for the benefit of others.
I believe pets are volunteers. My definition of a pet as a volunteer isany pet that provides an organized service engaging in positive social action for the benefit of others without receiving payment. (Payment for a pet would probably be food.)
References:
Delta Society. (1992). Handbook for animal-assisted activities and animal-assisted therapy. Renton, WA: Delta Society.
Delta Society. (1999). The pet partners team training course: Pets helping people manual. Renton, WA: Delta Society.
Ellis, S.J., & Noyes, K.H. (1990). By the people: A history of Americans as volunteers (Rev.ed.).San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers.
Miller,L.B.(2001,February 2,2001). Pets as volunteers on-line discussion [On-line ].CyberVPM listserv. cybervpm@yahoogroups.com.
Robinson,I.(Ed.).(1995).The Waltham book of human-animal interaction: Benefits and responsibilities of pet ownership. Great Britain: Pergamon.
Safrit,R.D. (2001).A quick history of volunteerism in the United States. Agricultural Education 795.02 .PowerPoint presentation. The Ohio State University, Columbus.
Veevers,J.E. (1985).The social meaning of pets: Alternative roles for companion animals. Marriage and Family Review,8 ,(11-30).
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