I have personally witnessed the magic of how people feel when they visit with Charlie. Experiencing complete, unconditional Love. No judgements, no rules, no boundaries, no blame. I have seen people awake out of their slumbers, to focus and smile at Charlie; I have seen sad eyes brighten when seeing Charlie's presence; I have heard inaudible people, speak clearly for the first time, when holding Charlie in their arms... "don't be afraid, it's ok, we won't hurt you".
Animal Assisted Therapy, truly is amazing. There is some sort of deep rooted connection, with which people identify, when petting or holding a little warm body. Somehow, it makes people feel human, alive, with a purpose.. There are certainly many scientific articles that support the power of touch and contact. From: "Pawsitive Interaction": A Scientific Look at the Human-Animal Bond “The companionship of animals decreases loneliness and stimulates conversation,” Beck says. “By encouraging touch and giving humans a sentient creature to care for, interaction with animals stimulates physical reactions that are very necessary and important in humans.” “Many times, pets give attention to a person who otherwise might not receive as much,” Beck says. “They stimulate exercise, encourage laughter, and facilitate social contact,” he explains. “These benefits add up to an improved sense of well being.” http://www.pawsitiveinteraction.com/pdf/a_scientific_look.pdf Animals make people feel important. Pet Facilitated Therapy increases that ten fold. I am so happy to be able to share Charlie's therapy gift of love, contact, kisses and touch. He makes everyone's day better :)
3 Comments
Therapy Dog (n):
(1) A dog training to provide affection, comfort, and love in therapeutic settings; (2) A gentle presence that makes talking about hard things just a little easier; (3) A clown that reminds us that even when things are difficult, the uncomplicated animal-human bond can make us smile.. Ever stop and think about how good you feel after an interaction with a dog? The definition of "Therapy Dog" says it all! From Wikipedia: "Animal Assisted Therapy" History During World War II, as a Corporal William Wynne was recovering in an Army Hospital in the Philippines, his pals brought his Yorkshire Terrier, Smoky, to the hospital to cheer the soldier up. Smoky immediately became such a hit with the other wounded soldiers that the Commanding Officer of the Hospital unit, Dr. Charles Mayo, of the now famous Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, decided to take Smoky on his rounds. Smoky’s work as a therapy dog continued for 12 years, during and after World War II. The establishment of a systematic approach to the use of therapy dogs is attributed to Elaine Smith, an American who worked as a registered nurse for a time in England. Smith noticed how well patients responded to visits by a certain chaplain and his canine companion, a Golden Retriever. Upon returning to the United States in 1976, Smith started a program for training dogs to visit institutions. Over the years other health care professionals have noticed and documented the therapeutic effect of animal companionship, such as relieving stress, lowering blood pressure, and raising spirits. In recent years, therapy dogs have been enlisted to help children overcome speech and emotional disorders. In 1982, Nancy Stanley, a San Diego mother of two, founded a non-profit organization called TLZ (Tender Loving Zoo). She got the idea while working as a volunteer in the Los Angeles Zoo, where she noticed how handicapped visitors responded eagerly to animals. She later read an article about the beneficial effects that animals can have on patients. Soon thereafter, she began taking her pet miniature poodle, Freeway, to the Revere Developmental Center for the severely handicapped. Inspired by the response of the patients and the encouragement of the staff, she took $7,500 of her own money, bought a van, recruited helpers, and persuaded a pet store to lend baby animals of all kinds to the cause. Partly as a result of Ms. Stanley's work, the concept of dog-therapy has broadened to "animal-assisted therapy", including many other species, such as therapy cats, therapy rabbits, therapy birds and so on |
Naidra Dawn thomsonNaidra's passion in animal welfare, particularly in regards to rescue with shelter dogs, inspired her to adopt Charlie. Realizing what a gentle loving soul he was, Naidra knew she had to train him to become a therapy dog. Now certified as a "Canine Good Citizen", Charlie is a natural emotional support dog to those who require comfort and he travels where needed. ArchivesCategories |