Furry angels help children to heal after abuse Dr Neerosh Mudaly with one of the guinea pigs she uses to treat kids who have suffered abuse and neglect. GUINEA pig therapy is helping transform the lives of some of the state's most vulnerable children. A Victorian pilot study has found animal assisted therapy is teaching child victims of severe abuse, neglect and violence how to cope and feel empathy. The success stories uncovered by the Child Abuse Prevention Research Centre include a five-year-old girl, who had been mute after being stalked and assaulted by a family member, who began to speak again after four sessions in animal-assisted therapy. Dr Neerosh Mudaly, who is part of the specialist unit at the Monash Injury Research Institute, said the program was started up by WAYSS, a not-for-profit community agency in Melbourne that helps women fleeing domestic violence. Dr Mudaly said the children had often witnessed or been victims of violence and abuse, and did not respond to traditional counselling. "The children are in a state of persistent fear, they are terrified of being found and often they are being stalked," she said. Under the program, the children spend 1 1/2 hours with the guinea pigs learning to handle, feed, comfort and care for the pets. "The reason small animals are used is to show the similarity between small animals and children - they are both vulnerable," Dr Mudaly said. Children learn very quickly they have the power to hurt the animal or comfort them. Many of the children said it was such a wonderful feeling when the animal snuggled into them. She said that before the therapy, the children were angry, found it hard to make friends, lacked confidence and were withdrawn. "After the program, they said they don't feel angry any more, they felt calmer and had made friends," she said. Following the success of the study, Dr Mudaly is seeking $80,000 worth of funding to extend the program over two years.