Animals have been our companions for thousands of years. Over time their relationship has gone from a work assistant to anequal partner in therapyand in working with people. Animals definitely have a pedagogical and methodical potential, which is still not sufficiently used in Slovenia. In mythesis I tried to findout, whether the introduction of the animal-assisted work method make ssense, considering what the workers at educational care institutions regard as notable problems and needs, and whether it would fill the gaps in the work at these institutions. I introduced a new term, animal-assisted work method, which includes animal-related activities, but the method is goal oriented, however not in the traditional therapeutic sense. As social pedagogues we base our work on theuserandhis/herinterests, so I tried to find out whether the children in educational care institutions have a desire to be in contact with animals. By interviewing educators and a group of children I conducted a research to see what goes on in educational care institutions. I used the gathered data to find out in which fields the animal-assisted work method would be nefit the work in educational care institutions.
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