Harley's Mission: Animal-Assisted Therapy is MORE than just seeing your therapist

Whenever I tell people that my dog Derby and I do Pet therapY they give a perplexed look. The look is followed by numerous questions which leave me clarifying that we are not spending time reclined in a chair discussing my childhood with a therapist; but rather it is Derby that is providing the therapy. I recall watching an episode of an animal series on television when I was a child. The episode was about a woman and her beloved companion who spent time volunteering in a hospital cheering up patients with a visit from her big fluffy white dog. The story stayed with me over the years. When I adopted Derby from the animal shelter I thought pet therapy would be the perfect volunteer opportunity for us. Derby's gentle nature and love for people made him the ideal candidate.

Here is Derby with Themla in one of his therapy sessions:
* Visits with a therapy dog helps heart and lung function by lowering pressures, diminishing release of harmful hormones and decreases anxiety with hospitalized heart failure patients (Cole, 2005).

Pet therapy, also known as Animal-assisted therapy (AAT), is a type of therapy that involves an animal with specific characteristics becoming a fundamental part of a person's treatment. Animal-assisted therapy is designed to improve the physical, social, emotional, and/or cognitive functioning of the patient. AAT can be provided on an individual or group basis.

After passing a preliminary evaluation and several weeks of training Derby and I earned a certification with the Delta Society and began our pet therapy journey. We spent time visiting nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, hospitals and the like. Derby shined at pet therapy and people beamed with happiness when we came to visit. His full smile, feathery tail sweeping enthusiastically, and inviting postures made people forget about their pain and discomfort even if only for a short time.

* Presence of a therapy dog can lower behavior distress in children during a physical examination at a doctor’s office and may be useful in a variety of health care settings to decrease procedure induced distress in children (Nagengast, 1997, Hansen, 1999).

We went for regular visits to Claire Bridge Nursing Home and made fast friends with a lovely woman by the name of Thelma. Every Tuesday we would chat with Thelma and watch Martha Stewart Living. She would invite Derby to sit on the bed with her and he graciously accepted. Thelma would stroke Derby's glossy coat as we talked and go to know each other. Thelma kept a jar full of milk bones at her bedside for our Tuesday visits and would always sneak extra goodies to Derby when I wasn't paying attention.

Our visits were very special and seeing how much joy my canine companion brought to the people we visited had me gleaming with pride. It is a beautiful thing to do and something Derby and I highly recommend. If you and your companion animal are considering a pet therapy certification please click here and here and here for more information.