Pet Therapy

Volunteering my time working with animals has been extremely rewarding. I have started to use pet therapy and have found it to be very effective with people who are depressed, who feel isolated and hopeless, and those who have low self esteem or feel no one cares about them. A pet is nonjudgmental and can provide instant unconditional love and attention.

A dog can draw out people who have problems communicating. Dogs communicate on an instinctual, nonverbal level that people who have difficulty communicating verbally can relate to. It can take days to try to engage some people in conversation. But bring in a pet therapy dog, and many people begin to talk almost immediately. Pets can open doors that people sometimes cannot. The dog does not place any expectations or demands on the person. The dog is there strictly to comfort and unconditionally accept a person. Having the dog respond in a positive manner helps people feel better. With the dog there, people automatically begin asking questions about the dog which then leads to conversations about themselves.

When I go to visit without my dogs and see a person, I am nothing more than a total stranger. The people don't know what kind of person I am. But when I bring my therapy dog, I am seen as someone who is caring and a safe person to talk to.

Studies have shown that stroking something soft like a dog's fur tends to calm a person, lowering blood pressure. We know from studies that dogs not only can lower blood pressure and heart rate, but they can also be excellent tools to help people feel less depressed.

So, if you or someone you love has been feeling blue, visit with a furry friend...maybe it will help brighten your day.

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