Pet Therapy: Wagging Tails Come to You

[okarol]

Pet Therapy: Wagging Tails Come to You

EasyLink Access #: 295 Kidney Times

By Kathe LeBeau, weKAN Program Manager
 
There’s no doubt that spending a lot of time in hospitals or treatment centers is not a lot of fun. One of the best ways to brighten those hours is with animals trained as therapy pets.
 
Not only is a warm fuzzy face or a wagging tail a friendly distraction, but spending time with therapy animals can actually have physical benefits as well. Studies have shown that interacting with animals can lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety and stress, and generally calm a person. As a dog, cat, or other animal offers loving and empathetic support, it also helps aid healing.
 
Friendly Animals
A person who may not interact with his caregivers and family members because of illness often comes to life when an animal enters the room. Even a child who has become sad or withdrawn will usually respond to puppy kisses with a smile or a laugh. A friendly animal brings a welcome distraction to the medical routine and can also provide a safe conduit for communication with healthcare staff. And what do the animals get? Their favorite thing: a lot of love and attention.
 
There are several organizations that support the use of therapy pets in medical facilities, including Therapy Dogs Inc., Delta Society, and Therapy Dogs International, Inc. (TDI). All are non-profit and voluntary organizations dedicated to providing pet visitation services in hospitals, chronic care homes, and other institutions.
 
Canine Volunteers
As an example, TDI, founded in 1990, has grown into a network of more than 4,000 volunteers worldwide. These volunteers share their special canine friends with people—young and old alike—who sometimes suffer from isolation and a lack of rewarding experiences due to ongoing medical care and health issues.
 
At Albany Medical Center (AMC) in upstate New York, 15 regular therapy dogs visit each week, ranging in size from a small Boston Terrier to a 140-pound Newfoundland. The variety of sizes and dispositions works well, since each person is comfortable with and responds to different types of dogs. The program is approved by the New York State Department of Health, and all the dogs are certified through one of the above organizations. This shows that they have completed a training program and are healthy, up-to-date on all their shots, and "good canine citizens."
 
Kelly Morrone, Manager of Volunteer Services at AMC, can’t say enough about the positive impact of pet therapy. “It’s such a wonderful program for everyone. You can just see the patients relax when the dogs come in.”
 
Looking Forward to Visits
“Some folks really wait for and look forward to their visits,” Kelly reports. “People who miss their own dogs from home, and those who just love dogs—almost everyone enjoys it. Even the staff love the visits. It makes the patients happier and breaks up everyone’s day. The dogs visit the waiting rooms, offices, nursing units; they even lay on the floor in the clinics so the kids can pet them and play with them.”   
 
Kelly also stressed that the program receives ongoing support from key people in administration. Many are dog lovers themselves, and that has helped make it a success for the last ten years.
 
On admission to the hospital, each person receives a form to request pet therapy visits. It’s even a regular part of the rehab process, and the animals often help out in group therapy sessions as well. A well-crafted hospital policy outlines such important items as sanitary considerations and areas where it is not appropriate for the animals to be, such as critical care and intensive care units. 
 
Virtually everyone agrees that therapy pets can really make a difference in how people perceive any stay for medical treatment, and even how well they bounce back. Consider that if your dog or cat (or even ferret) is obedient and well-socialized, it could become a terrific therapy pet. Then together you can help turn frowns into smiles!
 
For More Information contact:

Therapy Dogs International, Inc.
Flanders, NJ
973-252-9800
www.tdi-dog.org
 
Therapy Dogs Inc.
Cheyenne, WY
877-843-7364
www.therapydogs.com
 
Delta Society
Bellevue, WA
425-679-5500   
www.deltasociety.org

About the Author
Diagnosed with kidney disease in 2004, Kathe LeBeau began home hemodialysis in April of 2007, and is presently on the kidney transplant waiting list. She is the Project Manager for Renal Support Network’s weKAN program, and is also a PEPP speaker and HOPEline operator. Kathe lives in the Capital Region of New York State with her husband of 11 years.
 
http://www.kidneytimes.com/article.php?id=20080611181147

[stauffenberg]

Since some dogs have demonstrated a capacity to detect and gnaw off cancerous cutaneous tumors (dog's love decaying things, since in nature they eat carrion), they may be of more therapeutic benefit than usually imagined.

[monrein]

Well, that certainly casts baby carp pedicures in a whole new relative light.

[RichardMEL]

Last year at Christmas I took my cat into my dialysis unit (with permission/request from the staff). I took her around to everyone and most people except one guy who said he doesn't like cats (fair enough) were happy to see her. She was very well behaved, though I didn't let her out of my arms for fear she might jump on a line or something (!) but I know a number of people really apprieciated meeting her and having a soft warm furry friend to say hello to and pat etc.

I might do it again this year if they request.

[PMP]

Oh, Richard, I think that's a wonderful thing you did.  I am TERRIBLY biased, I admit, about animals (except for snakes...ha!) and the positive impact they can have on people.  I think your clinic is wonderful, just freakin' wonderful, for having allowed you to bring your cat into the clinic.  Kudos to them (and you) !!!! 

Pat

[RichardMEL]

Thanks PMP!! Yeah I was surprised when they asked me to bring her in.. I guess I talk about her so much they were curious... and maybe because it was Christmas. I think it helped that my kitty is also hospital "aware" - I have told this story here before - but basically I took her in to sit with my mum when she was dying. Celeste, bless her little kitty heart, rather than freaking out at the weird smells and machines and surroundings etc... she walked out of her carrier... gently walked up the bed and settled down right where my mum could lift her arm and pat her gently. Somehow Celeste knew this was important and she sat there for half an hour just so my mum could rest her hand on her fur and look at her. The big smile on mum's face is something I will always remember. Even my uncle, who is a doctor, who was against the idea of bringing her in was there when it happened.. and even he admitted it was amazing and worth it totally for the pleasure it gave my mother (who treated that cat like the grandchild she never had!) and I think Celeste knew it was time to repay all that fresh chicken she got given!!! She did it beautifully.. so I knew it would be OK to take her into the dialysis unit because she's a pretty understanding cat.. takes it all in and doesn't normally run or get scared by much (though a hailstorm the other night had her running for cover! ).

And some of the patients really responded to Celeste in such a positive way.. even if they weren't really cat people I think it was really worth it for the smiles and genuine pleasure... even because it was something a little different to break up dialysis.

I intend to offer to bring her in if I can even (hopefully) when I'm done with dialysis...