Four-legged fun! The positives of pet therapy
Animal therapy, also known as pet therapy, involves using pets to help with mental health problems, such as stress, anxiety and depression, writes Mark Gill
As many pet owners know, pets are incredible. Some of the benefits of animal therapy include:
- reducing boredom - increasing movement and activity through walks and play - providing companionship and decreasing loneliness - increasing social interactions - improving mood and general well - being - providing comfort and reducing levels of pain
- improving movement or motor skills - developing social or behavioural skills - increasing motivation toward activities such as exercise or interacting with others Therapy dogs in nursing homes can make a huge difference, as pet owner Sharon recounts: “ One day at the nursing home hospital, we knocked on the door of a room and asked the family inside if they would like a visit from a therapy dog. When we entered the room, I noticed the lady in the bed was asleep, so I asked if they were sure they wanted us to come in. They didn't hesitate to tell us yes and added that the lady loved dogs but had been in a coma for several days. They asked if I could put Elsa, a
therapy dog, on the bed beside her. I lifted Elsa onto the bed and not long after the lady lifted her fingers and started rubbing Elsa's foot. I was shocked and looked at the family who were also stunned by what had just happened. Elsa then gave the lady the smallest little lick on her cheek. I ’ m still trying to process what happened next: The lady opened her eyes and began to speak. ”
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