The research
study, «Canines and Childhood Cancer: Examining the Effects of Therapy Dogs with Childhood Cancer Patients and their Families,» is a
multi-year effort taking place in hospital settings across the U.S. that will examine the specific medical,
behavioral, and mental health benefits animal - assisted therapy (AAT) may have for children with cancer and their families.
A large,
multi-year study of 3,492 children demonstrated that blending families was not associated with negative
behavioral outcomes for the kids — in fact, it buffered the negative impact of divorce events that occurred earlier.