Location: Educational institutions in the Province of Teramo.

Participants: people between the ages of 13 and 16.

Objective: to evaluate the influence of animals in the development of socializing processes in children and pre-adolescents.

Operative Unit: G. Caporale Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute for Abruzzo and Molise and University of Bari, Faculty of Education Science.

Assessment tools: tests, check-lists and end-of-session assessment sheets.

Animals: dogs and rabbits.

(begun in 2005)

Location: Teramo Hyperbaric Rehabilitation Centre.

Participants: people with disabilities.

Objective: to integrate people affected by disabilities (both mental and physical) from the point of view of work, facilitating their training through multi-integrated therapies.

Organizations involved: G. Caporale Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute for Abruzzo and Molise, Consorform Group, Ministry of Labour and Social Policies, European Union (European Social Fund), Teramo Local Health Authority, Abruzzo Region/Directorate for Active Policies on Work, Training and Education.

Animals involved: dogs and rabbits.

(begun in 2004)

In collaboration with the Department of Mental Health of the Teramo Local Health Authority (ASL), the general objective of the project is to incentivize the social and work assimilation and integration of young people who have psychiatric problems. Their activities are planned and supervised by professional educators and psychologists from the G. Caporale Institute, and social and health workers from the Department of Mental Health of the ASL. .

(begun in 2000)

Location: Department of Paediatrics, San Liberatore Hospital, Atri.

Participants: children and adolescents admitted to the department for short stays.

Objective: to improve the psycho-physical wellbeing of the children during their stay in hospital.

Working team: 1 psychologist, 1 educationist, 3 veterinarians, 1 rehabilitation therapist, 2 teachers working with animals, 2 workers from the G. Caporale Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute for Abruzzo and Molise. Medical and paramedic staff from Atri Hospital.

Animals involved: rabbits.

(begun in 1999)

Location: G. Caporale Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute for Abruzzo and Molise.

Participants: 8 children with disabilities, with psycho-motor disorders, autistic disorders and Down's syndrome.

Objective: to incentivize the acquisition and development of cognitive, motor, emotional and socio-relational capacities.

Working team: 1 psychologist, 1 educationist, 3 veterinarians, 1 doctor, 1 rehabilitation therapist, 2 teachers working with animals, 2 workers from the G. Caporale Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute for Abruzzo and Molise.

Animals involved: rabbits. dogs.