Dogs Can Provide Therapeutic Assistance

March 26, 2012 | By More

Spread the Wealth

Do you have a great dog?  Does she like to meet people?  Enjoy getting hugs?  Is she a little show off who loves doing tricks on command?   Would she like to pay a visit now and then to the sick or elderly for some gentle petting and lots of attention?  Or maybe visit a children’s ward and make them all squeal with delight at the site of such a wonderful pup?

How easy it is to add joy to someone’s life or to break up an otherwise dreary day.   If you have a dog that is sociable and enjoys people then you might consider volunteering with your dog.  Some dogs may just love to sit by someone and be pet.  To a person who may be alone or needs comfort, this can be very soothing and enjoyable for them.

It’s been proven that pets add therapeutic value to people who are sick and/or suffering.   When you see a person’s face light up as your dog enters their room, you’ll know you’re making a difference.  And it’s so easy volunteering with your pet, because that there is no pressure on you to be entertaining, or keep up a conversation with a stranger, or to worry about saying the wrong thing, etc.  People will be so happy to see Fluffy come in to visit them chances are they won’t even know your name!  But it doesn’t matter.  Your dog (or cat) is doing their job.  The people who need the love and companionship of a pet are getting their needs met and that’s what it’s all about.

Contact the Delta Society or visit Intermountain Therapy Animals  at  http://www.therapyanimals.org/ and find out if your pet has what it takes to become a therapy animal.

“Enriching people’s lives through the human-animal bond”  Delta Society

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Category: All Posts, Obedience

Comments (1)

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  1. Mra says:

    There are a few ways of looking at it, but my pearsnol opinion is that homeless people have every right to own a pet. In some cases, the person may not have been homeless when they adopted the pet. They may have been evicted from their house or apartment and instead of leaving the dog, decided to bring it with them. As long as they are willing and able to keep the dog well nourished and healthy, I don’t see any problem with it. A lot of people put their pets’ needs before their own.Besides, often times homeless people do not have family and friends to fall back on. When that is your life, sometimes all you need is a friend, and a dog can be that.Dogs are hardy animals and I don’t think they really care whether they’re sleeping on carpet or grass as long as they get the love and attention they need.