QUOTES FROM ARTICLES ON PET THERAPY:
``Since the hospital began a canine program early last year, patients have credited the dogs with improving their moods and motivating them to recover faster. Dogs give patient something to take their minds off the enormity of their problems`` - Ladies Home Journal, 12\01.
``Researchers found even one 30 minute long session of animal assisted therapy reduced loneliness to a statistically significant degree`` -Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, 7\12
``Community programs that bring animals and people together for companionship and therapy began in the 1970`s, and are growing rapidly. The introduction of animals into the patients environment is a way of humanizing health care. This is becoming increasing important because the more that high technology is introduced into society, the greater the need for ``high touch``. ``-Naisbitt,1982
SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF PET THERAPY INCLUDE
*decrease emotional pain
*decrease physical pain
*reduces boredom
*reduces anxiety
*promotes responsibility
*allows for a loving environment.
*decrease depression
At the facility Ive been doing my pracital sessions this semester, there are many clients there with behavioural problems. It became a huge problem towards us students, as well as some of the less dominant characters in the facility. Coupled with these people with behavioural problems, there are also people with depression. For this reason we decided to
bring two small dogs to the venue and try some of the theories related to pet therapy.
From the moment I walked through the door with my jack russel (Zoe), the clients became different people. The ones with behavioural problems becames kind and nuturing , and those depressed- well instantly their moods were lifted.
Zoe has quite an attitude on her and tends to be quite a madam, therefore she kept throwing looks at some of the clients when they tried to hold her. But this just encouraged the clients more and made them laugh.
During group therapy we first taught the clients the appropriate way of handling dogs, and let them brush them. We then let them hold, play and give treats to the dogs. Unfortunetly Zoe let me down with this one, as sometimes when giving her treats she likes to hide it for later, and since she lives inside with me she started trying to hide the treat in the couch. Laughing it off i quickly picker her and her treat up and let the clients take her for a walk. Zoe is well behaved on a leash and handled many people walking her well, and because she is a long haired jack russel her hair made quite the impact on some clients. However for some it was a sensory overload and they started getting out of hand.
I had to teach the clients that long haired jack russels are the original breed of dog that was God made, and the short silky haired ones we know are man made breeds. This blew their minds so we had a quick discussion on man made vs God made breeds.This is something that really stuck with them.
Overall it was a success and it improved the mood of people and the facility in a whole. We have recommended the facility uses an organization such as ``paws for people`` to bring about more change through pets because the effects and improvement in the clients in the facility we could see immediately.
I would recommend pet therapy in the future.It really works...after all a pet is a friend for life.
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