Cisco's Kids: A Pet Assisted Therapy Behavioral Intervention Program

SUMMARY Cisco's Kids is an intervention program designed to address behavioral and social difficulties of incarcerated youth at the Rhode Island Training School. Incorporating principles of Professional Pet Assisted Therapy (PPAT), the first author developed the program based around working with his chocolate Labrador retriever, Cisco. This article details the design, goals, and results of the program over a period of two and one-half years. During this time, over 50 students ages 13–18 participated in the Cisco's Kids program. This program has collected qualitative data over the course of its existence, which provides support that this program has a positive effect on the participants. Authors also discuss a brief history of Pet Assisted Therapy (PAT) and the future of the Cisco's Kids program as well as a newly developed college-level course in PAT.