Although they cannot speak, animals find other ways to show love and gratitude in each gesture: by looking, licking, pecking or simply wagging their tail. No matter the species, they all share the same essence: a purity capable of touching the hearts of even those going through a difficult time.
It is precisely based on this connection between animals and humans that the institution Natureza Conecta, a non-profit organization that maintains a farm in Itu (SP), developed a project aimed at the resocialization of children and adolescents through animal-assisted therapy.
The initiative was also taken to Fundação Casa de Itapetininga (SP). To g1, Daniela Gurgel, founder of the NGO, explained that the work is based on the premise that adolescents undergoing socio-educational measures first need to feel safe and then be able to open up and establish bonds.
"The majority arrive with stories marked by violence, abandonment, neglect and broken bonds. In some cases, they learn to respond to the world through defense, aggression or distrust. Before talking about what they experienced, it is necessary to feel safe. Animals are able to provide this because they do not judge, they do not demand ready answers and they offer a direct and less threatening interaction", he pointed out.
At the Itapetininga unit, two teenagers, who chose the fictitious names “Gabriel” and “Gustavo”, participated in the project and told g1 how living with animals transformed their lives and helped them to better understand their own feelings.
"They [animals] 'reached out' to me and changed my way of thinking and acting. I was a very explosive person, I fought a lot and didn't have much patience for things. There were days when I was sad, I went to the farm and came back happy, ready to face another week or another period of the measure", says Gustavo.
"The contact with the animals made me calmer. The activities helped me to slow down a little, think better before acting and be calmer. I think this contact with the animals and nature made a difference for me", said Gabriel.
The teenagers also shared their favorite animals and, interestingly, identified characteristics in them that reflect their own emotions and experiences.
"I really enjoyed the activities with the dogs, but the animal I identified with the most was the horse. I had already had a horse before, called Pé de Pano, so the activity made me understand even more the way and feelings of this animal", says Gustavo.
"My favorite is a Labrador dog. I really liked her because she reminds me of my dog's mother. I ended up developing a special affection for her and I really enjoyed the moments when I could be close to her", adds Gabriel.
Gustavo said he realized that horses are capable of feeling people's emotions and expressing feelings similar to those of humans.
"If you're nervous, he gets nervous; if you're calm, he stays calm too. This made me pay more attention to my own emotions and better understand what the animal needed", he says.
Therefore, for Gabriel, the experience in the field transformed his perception of life. Previously, the young man had a more reclusive behavior, but now he feels comfortable sharing his feelings with family and friends.
"It was something different from what I was used to and it was good for me. I enjoyed getting to know the place, participating in the activities and spending time in that environment. Today, when I remember the activities, I think it was a very important experience for me", he reinforces.
For Gustavo, the experience went even further. According to the teenager, as soon as he leaves the socio-educational measure, he intends to be part of the farm team and take care of the animals.
"I learned to have more patience and to deal better with my feelings and emotions, both negative and positive. I developed a great affection for people, animals and everything I experienced in that place. It was about six months that made a lot of difference in my life. I am very grateful for the opportunity and for all the people who believed in me", he said.
According to Daniela, meetings between children, adolescents and animals are held weekly, following a structured therapy methodology. The sessions are led by a multidisciplinary team made up of psychologists, pedagogues and veterinarians.
"In practice, they participate in activities involving approach, observation, interaction and care with animals. From these experiences, skills such as building bonds, self-regulation, responsibility, empathy, respect for limits, self-esteem and coexistence are worked on", he explains.
In the case of children and adolescents in foster care, the groups are received at the organization's farm, in Itu. The same happens with teenagers from the Fundação Casa de Cerqueira César (SP) and Itapetininga units, who are taken weekly by bus to the location.
As for the minors in Sorocaba (SP), the proximity allows the animals to be taken to the Fundação Casa units, where the sessions are held.
"The movement is planned according to the needs of each species. Before leaving, the team assesses the health conditions and behavior of the animal, as well as the weather conditions, travel time and the structure available at the location that will receive it", explains Daniela.
Currently, around 40 animals live on the farm, including dogs, horses, ponies, cows and oxen, goats, pigs and birds. In relation to therapy, according to the founder, the characteristics of each species allow different objectives to be worked on throughout the process. Check it out below:
Dogs: encourage closeness, trust and socialization;
Cattle: help to develop presence and care;
Horses: allow you to work on limits, body awareness and self-regulation;
Goats and pigs: can stimulate autonomy, adaptation and resolution of new situations.
"It is not a recreational activity or simply providing contact with animals. Each interaction is part of a planned process, technically monitored and oriented towards objectives related to the mental health and socio-emotional development of these adolescents", he says.
For Daniela, coexistence with animals creates opportunities for children and adolescents to learn, in practice, how to care, observe and respect others. By noticing the reactions of each species and understanding their limits, they also begin to reflect on their own way of acting and relating.
"There is also a very strong identification with the stories of our animals, many of them survivors of abandonment, neglect or mistreatment. When they realize that that animal received care and had the opportunity to start over, they begin to recognize that their own stories also do not need to be determined by what they experienced", he points out.
The founder reinforces, however, that interactions with animals do not replace the work of psychologists or pedagogues.
“They act as mediators, helping these professionals access emotions and bonds that would often take longer to emerge”, he concludes.
To g1, the president of Fundação Casa, Acacio Miranda, highlighted that the therapies have shown positive results in the sociability and emotional health of the participants.
"Throughout the activities, we observed the strengthening of empathy, trust and the ability to establish relationships. It is a demonstration of how this contact can awaken new interests and open up opportunities for young people after the measure ends", he reports.
Daniela points out that not all animals participate in activities in the same way or with the same frequency. The presence of each species is defined according to the therapeutic and pedagogical objective, the group profile and, mainly, the physical and emotional conditions of each animal.
"For us, they are not work instruments. They are individuals with stories, needs and limits that need to be respected. Therefore, we constantly assess whether they are well and whether they want to participate in activities."
She also explains that animal care takes place daily, even when there is no care. The routine includes:
Adequate food for each species;
Cleaning of spaces;
Hygiene;
Behavior monitoring;
Moments of rest;
Stimuli so that they can express their natural behaviors;
Up-to-date vaccination and deworming;
Regular veterinary follow-up.
"We also keep vaccinations, deworming and veterinary monitoring up to date. As a veterinarian, I directly monitor the health, behavior and well-being of the animals, together with the professionals responsible for their daily management", he says.
During activities, the team observes signs of comfort, tiredness, fear or stress. If any animal shows discomfort, it is removed from the activity or the dynamics are adapted.
"Animal welfare is not a separate stage of the methodology. It is a condition for the work to exist. It is not possible to talk about human care if the animal that participates in this process is not equally protected and respected", he says.
"We also respect the affinity that may arise between the teenager and a certain animal. Sometimes, a young person identifies with the story or the way of interacting with a specific co-therapist, and this bond becomes part of the process. But this approach is never forced, neither for the teenager nor for the animal", he concludes.
