Creature Comforts: The Value of Animal-Assisted Therapy
Roast Beef is just one of the latest in a long line of animals that have shown a particular knack for helping humans of all ages. The friendly nature and non-judgmental companionship of animals can stimulate physical improvement and even break down emotional barriers.
Therapy Dogs
The most popular therapy animal is the faithful canine. Therapy dogs provide both emotional and physical therapy. Activities as simple as petting or walking the animal can help calm individuals, relieve tension and even lower blood pressure. For those who struggle with an emotional disorder, dogs can also provide a social outlet that is free of judgment – or even the need to talk at all.
St. John Ambulance operates therapy dog services across Canada. As part of the program, a volunteer accompanies their dog on weekly visits to hospitals, nursing homes and seniors’ residences, allowing patients to socialize while petting or cuddling the dog or even taking the animal for a walk. Patients enrolled in the program tend to eat and sleep better, talk more with other residents, and participate in more activities.
One creative program “Reading with Professor Dogs” from Caring Canines in Toronto uses a canine reading buddy help promote literacy skills and engender a love of reading in children who struggle with learning challenges. Each child is matched with a therapy dog and encouraged to read to the animal for a 20-to-40 minute session, as well as write a journal directed toward communicating with the dog.
If you’re looking for a fun, challenging and rewarding activity for you and your dog, most therapy dog programs are eager to accept new volunteers. While exact requirements vary, generally dogs need to be at least one year old, good tempered, well-trained and social, and up-to-date on their shots. If you have an encouraging volunteer story to share with our readers, please comment below.
Equine Therapy
Horses also make good candidates for animal-assisted therapy. There are two main schools of horse therapy: in therapeutic riding, individuals with physical, emotional or cognitive disabilities learn specific horseback riding skills, while hippotherapy – derived from the Greek word hippos for horse – uses the animal’s movements as part of treatment, but here actual riding skills are secondary to the therapeutic process.
Horses are especially helpful as part of emotional therapy. Large and intimidating to many, they can encourage individuals to confront their fears, thereby building self-confidence and self-esteem. Horses are also great interpreters of human body language and can act as emotional mirrors. When faced with a horse that seems stubborn or particularly difficult, individuals are asked to examine whether the animal is actually picking up those traits from its handler.
Although not as numerous as dog therapy programs, there are several equine therapy organizations operating in Canada and throughout the world. The Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association has about 100 member centers across the country and acts as a governing body for therapeutic riding in Canada.
Two international bodies, the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association and the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International, bring together member organizations around the world.