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The Power of Pet
Therapy Joy, a Springer Spaniel If you have a story to relate about the Power of Pet Therapy, I hope you will share it with us. Submit stories C/o PATS
Tag - the Newfie When I lived in the Phoenix, AZ area, our Newfoundland Club would take our dogs to nursing homes around the area. On memorable time Tag went with me, and as we were visiting each room, accompanied by a nurse, she said we may as well by-pass a certain room and the occupant had shown no emotion nor response to anything since being admitted. Well, Tag, being a dog, didn't understand she wasn't to go into the room and pulled the leash out of my hand, walked up to the lady who was sitting in a chair, and put her big head in the lady's lap. Everyone was holding their breath, when all of a sudden the lady threw up her hands, said "Oh!" and put her arms around the dog for a big, big hug, and she began talking to the dog. The nurse and I had tears running down our faces. I later learned, from that day on the lady socialized with the other residents. Polly the Newfie This time I took Polly, who also was a show dog, to a nursing home and all the residents were so glad to be able to pet her, and the other Newfoundlands. One elderly man saw Polly and said he' was so glad I'd brought his dog home', proceeded to take her lead out of my hand and walk her down to his room. The nurses explained to him that the dog just looked like his, and returned her to me. Many nursing home residents have had to give up their pets when they go into a 'home' and dearly miss them. Sallie the Newfie When we went to yet another 'home' and my Newfie Sallie and I heard one lady yell out "I don't want to see no dogs! Get them away from here!" OK, we were all walking our dogs past her open door when she once again yelled out, "Oh, they're Newfoundlands! I want to see a Newfoundland. Please bring them in here" and so we did. And she was able to hug and love and stroke and run her fingers through their fur, and later the nurse said she was very relaxed and agreeable after the visit. I do hope these few stories will help others to see how much good a visit to nursing and retirement homes with their dogs (or cats, or whatever) does. Pet therapy is wonderful. Annie, a Bouvier This is what I say to our Bouvier when I tie on her blue P.A.T.S. handkerchief. Her stub of a tail goes around and around like a helicopter's propeller; she knows it's time for show-and-tell and she's the centre of attention. I've never seen Annie grin so big as she makes her rounds to meet and greet each outstretched wrinkled hand. Like a new born baby, her presence brings energy to the room. I don't know how she does it, but Annie communicates: 'I'm happy to see you - yes you!!" Annie's joy in just being alive is truly infectious. She is a gentle, giving bear with lots of spirit and spunk. Like your P.A.T.S pet, her visits bring love and plenty of fun. An elderly lady summed it up best when she
said, "please just leave Annie here."
This story is written by Niki, who takes Dad's dog Joy in the Hospital to visit with Dad. Joy though gets called in to give therapy to others as well. The power of pets is overwhelming. While at the hospital, a couple of days ago, a woman was walking along the hallway. She heard the pitter patter of Joy's claws on the floor, and said "Is there a dog in here?". The nurse said, "Yes, she is visiting over there". Well, I walked out with Joy, and her face lit up. You see, she has been in the hospital visiting her husband who had been in a truly horrific accident, at night, with some loose horses. To make a long sad story short, he had a head injury, and was scheduled for surgery. She asked if we could visit her husband, to which I agreed. The look on her face when he saw the dog, and smiled, made her smile from ear to ear. It was so powerful. You see, Joy wiggles her little body like a smile that goes from the tip of her brown nose to the tip of her frilly Springer Spaniel tail. No questions, just Joy.
Yesterday, she came in the room and told us what she had been
going through. Just before she heard the pitter patter
of Joy's paws, she had been feeling very very down.
She had just been to the car, to get a new ticket, and
found a nasty $25.00 fine on the car. This, on top of
the bad news of her husband's condition, had made her
miserable. When she saw Joy, she said her spirits just
lifted like a lead weight off her shoulders. Dedicated to Gerry in whom a dog's love and the love of dogs knows no emotional boundaries.
I feel like starting this off with "Once upon a time", as the contents following will indeed sound like a fairy story. I own a cat.... no, that's wrong, a cat owns me is more correct. About eight years ago, after receiving the news that cancer was to limit my life span to a matter of a few months, my cat, Precious (Norwegian Forest Cat) began to show some concern about my well-being. It was especially evident after radiation therapy when my body was confined to a wheelchair since I was in severe pain from the waist down. The pain would result in discomfort so severe that the tears would flow. Almost every pain medication was tried, except Morphine. (I would not permit that) None of these worked for longer than just a few minutes. Precious would seem to sense when the pain was at a peak, come to where I was seated, jump upon on my lap, and the pain would vanish. Upon the urging of my wife, this was mentioned to my doctor, in spite of the fear of ridicule. To my surprise, there was no ridicule at all (while he was out looking for the white coat that does up in the back, I left his office!) About four years ago, I stopped taking all prescription medications. I do not even take Aspirin, The frequency of the pain peaks has not changed and the intensity has not varied, but my attitude towards the pain has moved from anger to acceptance. I have asked medical exdperts if this is "mind over matter" and am assured that this is not so. Originally, I thought that as my immune system automatically fights the ingestion or drugs, the cat was a mind detour allowing the medication to take effect. But, I do not take medication now and the pain void is instantaneous. My "furry pain medication" seems to know more about me than I ever gave her credit for. The pain does not re-occur while Precious is sitting on my lap. When she leaves, the pain will return after about 20 minutes, but within my pain tolerance level. These peak pain periods may occur two to four times a day. They may be experienced on a daily occurrence or I may go for two or three days without a pain peak. The strange thing is that we have a Cocker Spaniel and the experience of pain relief does not occur when she cuddles net to me. Cats are far more intelligent than we give them credit for, and I believe that they may have powers that we only dream of. (This from a man who once considered that the only important pets were those of the canine variety!) The wheelchair, two canes and then one cane have now been discarded with little or no discomfort. I am told that the pain experience will be permanent, but my loving cat makes it bearable. I have mentioned this to many cancer specialists, but get the feeling that they are condescending at the most. We, as an "intelligent form of life", do not seem to understand even our most loved pets and are only too willing dismiss their capabilities in order to protect the status quo! Surely this experience must have been experienced by others with similar problems I would love to hear their stories.
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