Many kinds of animals are used in therapy, including dogs, cats, elephants, birds, dolphins, rabbits, lizards, llamas, and other small animals. Such animals are often referred to as comfort animals.

Physical Benefits

• Improve fine motor skills.
• Improve wheelchair skills.
• Improve standing equilibrioception (balance).
• May lower blood pressure, risk for stroke or heart attack, and decrease depression.

Mental Benefits

A 2007 meta-analysis found that animal-assisted therapy is associated with moderate effect sizes in improving outcomes in autism spectrum symptoms, medical difficulties, behavioral problems, and emotional well-being.

• Increase verbal interactions among group members
• Increase attention skills (i.e., paying attention, staying on task).
• Develop leisure/recreation skills.
• Increase self-esteem.
• Reduce anxiety
• Reduce loneliness.
• Learn to trust.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal-assisted_therapy