On July 20th, 1999 the  The Chimo Animal Assisted Therapy Project, along with Bosco Homes, began a new pilot project. This project is an Animal Assisted Therapy Program designed to benefit children at Bosco Homes who have developmental, emotional/behavioral and/or psychiatric disorders. Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) at Bosco Homes is a goal-directed, therapeutic intervention that focuses on helping children discover parts of themselves through interacting with a skilled animal (who is tested prior for skills and aptitude) and a professional mental health practitioner, who is skilled in human-animal interactions. AAT is an opportunity for children to ‘let down their guard? increase their motivation, develop trust, and feel good about themselves. Many of our children have difficulties with such issues as poor attachment/bonding, low self-esteem, difficulty with feelings of empathy, poor boundaries with others, depression, difficulty maintaining attention, anxiety, sexual/physical/emotional abuse, traumas, separation and loss issues, etc. This program provides a non-threatening context for children to discover and express these capacities. Applying these capacities towards self and others is one of the goals of this program. Currently, individual Animal Assisted Therapy is provided to children and youth who may benefit from this intervention. In addition, we offer a success-oriented, unique AAT vocational group program that develops life skills, vocational interests, community awareness, as well as individual treatment goals. Bosco Homes is currently working with the The Chimo Animal Assisted Therapy Project, sponsored by the Health Innovation Fund, to evaluate the effectiveness of pet assisted therapy.