16 July 2008

Pet rabbits are proving to be a hit with dementia sufferers, the Birmingham Mail reports.

The cute animals have been introduced to Neville Williams Home, Selly Park, as part of animal assisted therapy (AAT) programme.

Marcus Fellows, manager of the home, set up the animal therapy centre after hearing about its success elsewhere.

In addition to rabbits the residents can also spend time with guinea pigs, chickens and kune kune pigs.

Mr Fellows reports that the pets allow residents to remember their own animals and also helps bring families together.

"It has proved to be very popular not just with the residents but also with their families. One of the benefits we had not considered was that it also encourages children to want to come," he said.

"It increases interaction with the relatives as they have something in common to talk about."

Research printed in Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics has shown that AAT can also help people with schizophrenia deal with the condition.