Pet Assisted Therapy

by Diana Nielsen

Marilyn Lotts walked into our workshop with two dogs, two rabbits, a guinea pig and three human volunteers. She was coming to talk to us about the Pet Assisted Therapy Program at the Humane Society at Lollypop Farm near Rochester, New York. There was excitement in the room where people had just been discussing how important pets are in our lives. Animals provide outstanding companionship. They don’t care how we look or where we live. They are good listeners and don’t give away our secrets. They make us laugh and improve our morale. Studies have shown that spending time with our pets actually lowers our blood pressure and heart rate. In short, pets can offer us unconditional love.

Boris Levinson, a child psychiatrist, is credited with coining the phrase pet therapy in1964 following an observation he made when he used his dog in sessions with severely withdrawn children. Scientists and health care professionals have used pets in scores of therapeutic settings to improve morale and communication and bolster self esteem. Elizabeth Corson implemented a pet-facilitated therapy program at a psychiatric unit at Ohio State in 1977. She studied 50 patients. Three left the study. The rest showed marked improvement, finding pets to be social catalysts as they forged a positive link between patients and staff. Patients reported increased self respect, independence and confidence. A study in 1981 showed that at a nursing home in Melbourne, Florida, the patients were more alert and responsive when pets were introduced. They smiled and laughed more.

As far back as the 18^th century, Quakers used “pet therapy” for the mentally ill. Horses have been used to help physically disabled individuals with posture, balance and mobility as well as emotional and cognitive behavior. Pets have been used to give comfort and support to the terminally ill and break the ice with at risk youth. Even Florence Nightingale recommended small pet animals as excellent companions for the sick. For some elderly people, owning a pet gives them a reason to get out of bed. It may fill the void of a death of a long-time spouse. For some, an animal companion may be the only living thing to talk to or reason to take a walk.

Many years ago, because of this therapeutic benefit to patients, animals were introduced into hospitals and children’s centers. This program has been in existence at the Humane Society in its present form for about 17 years. Each visit lasts about an hour because that is the longest attention span for quality time with the animal visitors. The volunteers, who bring their own pets for the most part, are the lifeblood of the program. The fifty volunteers, some coming once or twice a week, others a couple times a month, bring pets to 90 facilities in Monroe County and Canandaigua. These include nursing homes, enriched and independent living facilities, adult day care, developmentally disabled facilities and, children’s and mental health centers. In addition to their own dogs, they bring along cats, rabbits and guinea pigs provided from the shelter. Although therapy animals are not legally defined and programs are not certified, the dogs used in this and similar programs have to pass a Certified Dog International Test.

The requirements state that the dog must demonstrate confidence and control. They must pass the following tests: accepting a friendly stranger, sitting politely for petting, showing a good appearance and welcoming grooming, walking on a loose leash and through a crowd, sitting and downing on command, staying in place, coming when called, reacting politely to another dog, showing good reactions to distractions, maintaining a supervised separation and “saying” hello.

People who live in institutions often light up when they see the animals arriving at their new homes. It has happened that people who don’t get along that well with other people will start smiling when they see the dogs coming down the hall. Some of the people in these facilities had lived with animals all their lives and had to give them up to live there. It means so much to them to be able to touch, cuddle, hug and talk to the furry critters. They reminisce about the pets they had in their lifetimes and share precious memories with the visitors. One woman in St. Mary’s brain injury unit in a coma due to an auto accident was not in good shape with little response. The pet therapist placed a bunny on her lap. When she woke up from the coma, she remembered two things -- the pet on her lap and her aunt reading to her. One man who always watched cowboy movies on television started talking when a dog arrived. On occasion there have been residents that were somewhat reclusive and preferred to spend most of their time in their rooms who came out to the recreation room to see the animals. Once an Alzheimer patient spoke a completely appropriate sentence instead of her usual incoherent speech. The recreation therapist told the pet assisted therapist that it was the first time she had smiled in a very long time. Ordinarily crabby people have been known to become warm and friendly in the company of the animals.

Another benefit of the program is that the people who work at the visited places enjoy taking time out from their stressful jobs out to ooh and aah over the animals – staff therapy. Being around pets distracts us from our worries. Several facilities now have resident animals that were originally pet assisted therapy visitors.

Pet therapy is entertainment. It makes us laugh and serves as an icebreaker. More than that, it reduces our sense of loneliness and can improve our feelings of self worth and security. It has even been documented that people who are around pets have been shown to live longer.

The people in our workshop were definitely smiling and interacting more at the end of the hour than at the beginning. Everyone warmed up to the friendly dogs, rabbits and guinea pigs. In fact, it was hard to get in a pat since the animals were so much in demand. For people living in an institution, pet visitors can make their day. I don’t have a pet at home anymore. I know on days that I sneak in a visit with other people’s dogs and cats, I find myself responding in a warm and affectionate way which makes me glow inside.

For more information about the program in Rochester, you may call Marilyn (585)223-1330 (ext. 243) or Jerry (ext. 307). The web site is at www.lollypop.org. For more information about Therapy Dogs International, Inc. you may contact them at (973)252-9800 or see their web site at www.tdi-dog.org.