“…The case study demonstrates that pet ownership encompasses a sense of family belonging through giving care and love to the pet and that this may help persons with a mental health disability to move beyond the perception that their interactions with others are one-sided (Williams & Mfoafo-M'Carthy, 2006). Over the last few years, there has been a steady trend in acknowledging pets as part of the family network (Allen et al, 2000;Beck & Katcher, 1996;Bonas, McNicholas, & Collis, 2000;Fine, 2000;Hammell, 2004;Phillips Cohen, 2002;Turner, 2001).…”