The Use of Service Dogs for Emotional Support of the National Police of Ukraine
Abstract
Abstract. The relevance of the study of the use of working dogs for emotional support of current officers of the National Police of Ukraine is due to the need to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of their law enforcement functions during martial law. The purpose of the study is to analyze the foreign experience of involving specially selected and trained therapy dogs in the emotional stabilization of police officers, as well as to develop recommendations for the involvement of NPU working dogs that have been properly selected in the psychological and emotional support of active police officers in Ukraine. The research methodology is formed in accordance with its purpose, as well as the specifics of its object and subject. In particular, the study examines the impact of interaction with a dog on a person’s emotional state, the experience of involving therapy dogs in police departments in other countries, as well as the results of such involvement. Introductory meetings with specially selected working dogs were held in 7 district police departments of Kyiv region. By interviewing the participants of these meetings, the differences in their emotional state before and after interaction with dogs were identified. Recommendations were developed on scenarios for such meetings and their regularity. The practical significance of the study lies in the creation of new tools for the emotional stabilization of police officers during the discharge of their duties during martial law, as well as in expanding the possibilities of their psychological recovery.
Keywords: psychology; emotional support; emotional support dog; interaction with a dog; emotional stabilization.
Downloads
References
Airports and Therapy Dogs: A Complete Guide. Site "Military Animal Project". Retrieved from https://www.therapydogs.com/airports-and-therapy-dogs-a-complete-guide/
Arsovski, D. (2024). The Role of Animal Assisted Therapy in the Rehabilitation of Mental Health Disorders: A Systematic Literature Review. Perspectives on Integrative Medicine, 3(3), 142-151. DOI: 10.56986/pim.2024.10.003
Banks, M.R., Willoughby, L.M., & Banks, W.A. (2008). Animal-assisted therapy and loneliness in nursing homes: Use of robotic versus living dogs. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 9, 173-177. DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2007.11.007
Betlachová, M., Uhlíř, P., & Kuchařová, Z. (2015). Canis Therapy and Its Use in Rehabilitation. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281763163_Canis_therapy_and_its_ use_in_rehabilitation
Blad, E. (2023). Gone to the Dogs? Schools Use Therapy Animals to Boost Mental Health, Academics. Retrieved from https://www.edweek.org/leadership/gone-to-the-dogs-schools-use-therapy-animals-to-boost-mental-health-academics/2023/01
Bohuslavska, V. (2024). Psychological features of law enforcement activities during the Russian military intervention. Legal psychology, 1(34), 93-100. DOI: 10.33270/03243401.93
Budanova, M. (2023). Martial law and possible transformations of a police officer's personality. Legal psychology, 1(32), 79-83. DOI: 10.33270/03233201.79
Butsyk, O.P. (2024). Zootherapy as a means of overcoming anxiety during war (Work master's degreeа, Ternopil, Ukraine). Retrieved from https://elartu.tntu.edu.ua/handle/lib/47245
Chu, C.I., Liu, C.Y., Sun, C.T., & Lin, J. (2009). The effect of Animal-Assisted Activity on Inpatients with schizophrenia. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing, 47(12), 43-48. DOI: 10.3928/02793695-20091103-96
Cole, K., Gawlinski, A., Steers, N., & Kotlerman, J. (2007). Animal assisted therapy in patients hospitalized with heart failure. American Journal of Critical Care, 16(6), 575-585. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17962502/
Digital Edition: What cops want in 2024. Site "Police1". Retrieved from https://www.police1.com/what-cops-want/digital-edition-what-cops-want-in-2024
Edwards, L., & Marshall, F. (2023). Animal assisted therapy in neurorehabilitation inpatient units following acquired brain injury - A UK-based national survey of staff experiences and opinions. Advances in Integrative Medicine, 10(4), 172-178. DOI: 10.1016/j.aimed.2023.10.004
Fonseka, B., Marshall, F., & Edwards, L.J. (2022). The Effects of Animal- Assisted Therapy on the Health and Well- Being of Military Veterans: A Systematic Scoping Review and Recommendations for Future Research. People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice, 5(1). Retrieved from https://docs.lib.purdue.edu//cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1095&context=paij
Gerwisch, K., Weissenbacher, K., Proyer, M., Palme, R., & Huber, L. (2023). A pilot study into the effects of PTSD-assistance dogs’ work on their salivary cortisol levels and their handlers’ Quality
of life. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 28(2), 288-300. DOI: 10.1080/10888705.2023.2259795
Hall, P.L., & Malpus, Z. (2000). Pets as therapy: Effects on social interaction in long stay psychiatry. British Journal of Nursing, 9(21), 2220-2225. DOI: 10.12968/bjon.2000.9.21.5425
Hartley, T.A., Burchfiel, C.M., Fekedulegn, D., Andrew, M.E., & Violanti, J.M. (2011). Health disparities in police officers: comparisons to the U.S. general population. Int J Emerg Ment Health, 13(4), 211-220. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4734372/
Havrillayová, A., & Lešková, L. (2019). Canisterapia a jej odborná realizácia v zariadeniach sociálnych služieb. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330482867_Canistherapy_ and_its_Professional_Implementation_in_Social_Service_Facilities_Canisterapia_a_jej_odborna_realizacia_v_zariadeniach_socialnych_sluzieb
Healing paws: The rise of therapy dogs in law enforcement. Site "Police1". Retrieved from https://www.police1.com/what-cops-want/healing-paws-the-rise-of-therapy-dogs-in-law-enforcement
Healing vets, saving shelter pets. Site "Military Animal Project". Retrieved from https://militaryanimalproject.com/
How a USO therapy dog helps the family of a fallen soldier. Site "Militaryfamilies". Retrieved from https://militaryfamilies.com/military-news/how-a-uso-therapy-dog-helps-the-family-of-a-fallen-soldier/
How Therapy Dogs Help Traumatized Kids Face Their Abusers In Court. Site "Youtube". Retrieved from https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fFK_RfFtAe8&feature=youtu.be
IAHAIO White Paper 2014, updated for 2018. (2019). Site "IAHAIO". Retrieved from https://iahaio.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/white-paper-ukranian-2019-updated.pdf
Kravchenko, O. (2021). Canitherapy as an innovative direction of socio-psychological rehabilitation. Innovation in education, 1(3), 28-38. DOI: 10.35619/IIU.V1I13.327
LaFrance, C., Garcia, L.J., & Labreche, J. (2007). The effect of a therapy dog on the communication skills of an adult with aphasia. Journal of Communication, 40(3), 215-224. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcomdis.2006.06.010
Martin, F., & Farnum, J. (2002). Animal-assisted therapy for children with pervasive developmental disorders. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 24(6), 657-670. DOI: 10.1177/019394502320555403
McDowall, S., Hazel, S.J., Cobb, M., & Hamilton-Bruce, A. (2023). Understanding the Role of Therapy Dogs in Human Health Promotion. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 20(10). DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20105801
McNicholas, J., & Collis, G.M. (2000). Dogs as catalysts for social interactions: Robustness of the effect. British Journal of Psychology, 91, 61-70. DOI: 10.1348/00071260016167
Nieforth, L.O., & Leighton, S.C. (2024). Animal-assisted interventions for military families: a systematic review. Front Public Health, 14(12). DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1372189.
Our Dogs | PTSD Service Dogs in Israel. Site "PTSD Service Dogs". Retrieved from https://www.israelguidedog.org/ptsd-service-dogs/
Rondeau, L., Corriveau, H., Bier, N., Camden, C., Champagne, N., & Dion, C. (2010). Effectiveness of a rehabilitation dog in fostering gait retraining for adults with a recent stroke: A multiple single-case study. NeuroRehabilitation, 27, 155-163. DOI: 10.3233/NRE-2010-0592
Rossokha, L.M. (2019). Rehabilitation of people using pet therapy. Current issues of physical therapy and occupational therapy: collection of materials of the student scientific-practical conference
(pp. 27-28). Kharkiv: KNUVS. Retrieved from https://repo.knmu.edu.ua/server/api/core/bitstreams/ 5a46792a-2f57-4ba3-a578-b0238810fcd2/content
Rumayor, C.B., & Thrasher, A.M. (2017). Reflections on Recent Research Into Animal-Assisted Interventions in the Military and Beyond. November. Current Psychiatry Reports, 19(12). DOI: 10.1007/s11920-017-0861-z
The Importance of Therapy Dogs and the Military. Site "Alliance of Therapy Dogs". Retrieved from https://www.therapydogs.com/therapy-dogs-and-the-military/
Therapy Dog Who Comforted U.S. Troops in the Middle East Now Needs Help Continuing Healing Work. Site "Yahoo!news". Retrieved from https://nz.news.yahoo.com/therapy-dog-comforted-u-troops-203332444.html
Therapy Dogs Bring Comfort to Plymouth Police Department. Site "Youtube". Retrieved from https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NvSjOp2As8g&feature=youtu.be
Yehorenkov, A.I., & Kikhno, I.M. (2022). Zootherapy as a method of alternative medicine: scientific and bioethical aspects. Health, medicine and philosophy: survival strategies in the context of Covid reality. S.V. Pustovit, N.M. Buhaiova, L.A. Paliei (Eds.). Kyiv: Ukr. asotsiatsiia z biblioteky. Retrieved from https://www.nuozu.edu.ua/zagruzka3/30_08_22m-2.pdf
Abstract views: 109 PDF Downloads: 54
- Authors reserve the right to authorship of their own work and transfer to the magazine the right of the first publication of this work under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which allows other persons to freely distribute published work with mandatory reference to authors of the original work and the first publication of an article in this magazine.
- Authors have the right to enter into separate additional agreements on non-exclusive dissemination of the work in the form in which it was published in the journal (for example, to post an article in the institution's repository or to publish as part of a monograph), provided that the link to the first publication of the work in this journal is maintained.
- The journal's policy allows and encourages the posting of articles by authors on the Internet (for example, in electronic storehouses of institutions or on personal websites), both before the submission of this manuscript to the editorial office and during its editorial processing, as this contributes to the creation of a productive scientific discussion and positively affects the efficiency and dynamics of citing the published work.
