Page 5
Velma's Pets As Therapy,
PO Box 324, Killara, NSW 2071, Australia.
Research, Statistics, Quotes and Information
On The Benefits Of Pets
This Page Includes:-
Why Have A Pet?
Children And Pets
Becoming A Volunteer
Starting A Visiting Pet Therapy Program
Resources
Quotes From Health Officers and Volunteers
WHY HAVE A PET?
If you've been in the pet arena for any length of time,
you've heard that it's healthy to be in regular contact with a pet. But
do you know some of the research documenting this?
Having a pet may decrease heart attack mortality by 3%.
This translates into 30,000 lives saved annually (Friedman,
1980).
Seniors who own dogs go to the doctor less than those
who do not. In a study of 100 Medicare patients, even
the most highly stressed dog owners in the study has 21 percent
fewer physician's contacts than non-dog owners. (Siegel, 1990).
Pet owners have lower blood pressure. (Friedman, 1983,
Anderson 1992).
Pet owners have a higher one-year survival rates following
coronary heart disease (Friedman, 1980).
Medication costs dropped from an average of .80 per
patient per day to Just $1.18 per patient per day in new
nursing home facilities in New York, Missouri and Texas
that have animals and plants as an integral part of the
environment. (Montague, 1995).
Dogs are preventive and therapeutic measures against
everyday stress (Allen, 1991).
Pet owners have lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels
than non-owners (Anderson, 1992).
Pet owners have better psychological well-being (Serpel,
1990).
Pet owners have fewer minor health problems (Friedmann,
1990, Serpel, 1990).
Pets decrease feeling of loneliness and isolation
(Kidd, 1994).
Seventy percent of families surveyed reported an increase
in family happiness and fun subsequent to pet acquisition.
(Cain, 1985).
Pet owners have better physical health due to exercise
with their pets. (Serpel, 1990).
CHILDREN AND PETS
Contact with pets develops nurturing behavior in children
who may grow to be more nurturing adults (Melson, 1990).
Children exposed to humane education programs display
enhanced empathy for humans compared with children not
exposed to such programs. (Ascione, 1992).
Positive self-esteem of children is enhanced by owning
a pet. (Bergensen, 1989).
Children's cognitive development can be enhanced by
owning a pet. (Poresky, 1988).
The presence of a dog during a child's physical examine
decreases their stress. (Nadgengast, 1997, Baun, 1998).
Children owning pets are more involved in activities such
as sports, hobbies, clubs or chores. (Melson, 1990)
Companionship of pets (particularly dogs) helps children
in families adjust better to the serious illness and
death of a parent (Raveis, 1993).
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Are you considering becoming a volunteer,
or commencing a Pet Therapy Visitors'program in your area?
If so, please note:
Our volunteers receive full theoretical and practical training with the aim being, to interact safely, confidently, pleasantly and effectively with a frail or vulnerable individual and/or group, with a pet for the benefit of the frail person, and the pet and human volunteer.
When dealing with frail and vulnerable people, health and safety issues are paramount.
An untrained person with a pet, visiting frail people are likely to either incur or cause at best a confronting and difficult situation, or at worse an injury to themselves, their pet or the frail person.
I strongly advise that no person should visit with frail and vulnerable people without:-
1. The pet first being fully assessed by a veterinarian and a 'professional' dog trainer for healthiness, friendliness, nil people or dog aggression, gentleness and for basic obedience, and then trained in correct positioning on visits.
2. The human volunteer being specifically trained to have a basic understanding of all the varying challenges residents are generally experiencing in a health care facility eg, dementia, stroke, heart and other aging issues, and to safely interact with a frail person, with a pet.
3. A staff person at the facility, eg a Diversional Therapist or Activities Officer, accompanying the person and pet volunteers at all times during the visit. This will ensure people who are known to like pets do not get missed out and people, who need special attention and communication, can be effectively managed. Left alone in a facility, a pet and person volunteer can come across residents with an unknown medical history and unknown behaviour possibly leading difficult situations.
Further points to consider when volunteering:
1. Accidents can happen anywhere and at any time. This is especially the case when around frail and vulnerable people. Do not visit anywhere without Public Liability insurance of your own. If you join a reputable pet therapy program, they will include you on your insurance. If they do not have insurance, look for another group to join.
2. This work can be tremendously satisfying and rewarding. I have not yet been on a visit without coming away knowing that my pet and I had just offered something truly significant. But, on-going support and training is required to maintain and develop skills. Make sure your group offers regular, on-going training and accessible support.
The Process Of Commencing and Training To Become A Volunteer
1. Pets should receive an initial safety assessment. This is our checklist for an initial pet assessment.
INITIAL SAFETY ASSESSMENT
Legalities (within Australia)
· Registered with local council
· Microchip
Healthiness
· On an all-worm program
· On a heart worm program
· On a flea and tick program
· Free from skin and health problems
· Does not suffer from travel sickness
Basic obedience
· Sit
· Stay
· Come when called
· Lay down
· Leave it
· Walk on a lead without pulling
· Walk on a lead with a stranger without pulling
· Does not jump up on people's legs
· Does not mouth or nip
Enjoys being touched on their
· Head
· Ears
· Body
· Tail
· Legs
· Paws
Confidence and Friendliness
· Shows nil aggression during rough play
· Is friendly towards other dogs
· Enjoys meeting strangers
· Acts calmly in a crowd
Grooming
· Coat clean and brushed
· Clean teeth
· Clean ears
· Nails short and filed
2. Once this initial pet/dog assessment has been passed successfully, the pet can then be trained in safe handling and positioning on visits.
When the pet has passed the assessment, training commences:
3. The person then receives a theory course to gain a basic foundation in many aging illnesses and symptom. This includes a questionnaire test, which they can do in their own time.
4. The trainee volunteer then accompanies an accredited volunteer without their pet on one or two visits.
5. The trainee then accompanies an accredited volunteer with their pet on as many visits as they want, with different volunteers until they feel confident.
6. The trainee is then assessed on a visit to ensure they are interacting safely, suitably, pleasantly and effectively.
7. The trainee receives accreditation, an Accreditation Certificate and the opportunity to be allocated a health care facility within their own area, or to visit with other volunteers.
Support Offered To Volunteers
A monthly Volunteer's Newsletter to keep every one informed of news, future events and training courses - within and outside of our program.
A monthly Volunteer's meeting.
Bi monthly dog training classes.
Resources
BOOKS:
How To Start A People-Pet Partnership Program written by Linda M. Hines
Published: The Latham Foundation for the Promotion of Human Education www.latham.org or write: People-Pet Partnership, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7010
Organization and Management of A K-9 Therapy Group written Jacqueline P. Root
Published: Denlinger Publishers, Fairfax, VA 22020
The Four-Footed Therapist written Dr. Janet Ruckert
Published: Ten Speed Press, PO Box 7123, Berkeley, California 94707
What The Animals Tell Me written by Sonya Fitzpatrick
Published: Sidgwick & Jackson, Macmillan Publishers Ltd, 25 Eccleston Place, London SW1
TRAINING VOLUNTEERS:
We have experience in distance training volunteers via correspondence, for a fee. This fee helps to support Velma's Pets As Therapy. For full details, contact Velma Violet Harris at velma@velmaspetsastherapy.com.au
GROUPS WHO PROVIDE PET THERAPY PROGRAMS:
Velma's Pets As Therapy, PO Box 324, Killara, NSW 2071, Australia.
Email: velma@velmaspetsastherapy.com.au
Delta Society - operating in Australia and USA. For contact addresses research your phone book, local library and Internet.
People-Pet Partnerships - operating in Australia and USA. For contact addresses research your phone book, local library and Internet.
Some Dog Obedience Training Clubs - a few offer a visiting pet program.
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Quotes from Diversional Therapists, Recreational Officers and volunteers about our visiting pets interacting with residents at health care facilities:-
"Mrs C. responded to Benny by moving her arms that haven't moved
for some time."
"The best experiences from today's visit with Bonnie, was seeing
the smiles on people's faces."
"It was a great day. All the residents had a wonderful time at
Cricket's birday party, eating, drinking and playing with cricket.
We were sorry when it was time for Cricket to leave."
"It was wonderful watching Mrs R. walking Shayna up the hallway
and learning from Louise the volunteer how to command the dog to
sit. Mrs R's face lit up with joy to know she was in control of
such a powerful dog."
"The best thing is to watch the resident's expressions when they
saw Tyson and Boofy. They all very much loved the visit and are
looking forward to the next one."
"An excellent response from most residents especially from
Elizabeth who talked and smiled for the first time in ages."
"Smiles and animated expressions from our frail and immobile
residents. Our residents greatly appreciate and enjoy their visits
from Umbi and Dotti."
"A usually quiet and subdued resident was animated when she
patted the dog."
"The dogs really lit up the residents faces with smiles."
"My best experience was seeing the happy faces and generally
big joy."
"Lots of interaction by all residents. The dogs have now won
over all residents. So all participate which is wonderful."
"The dogs were great therapy especially for Roma and Hilda
who cheered up tremendously."
"Mary had memory recall for the first time by remembering
the dogs names and told me to take a holiday so she could look after
my dogs for a week."
"The residents loved the visits from the dogs. They cuddled
them and talked to them."
"Great interaction from residents - throwing the ball, brushing,
kissing and cuddling the dogs. Marge was very talkative for a change
and said that she loved the dogs."
"The best experience is the joy it always brings to the residents.
It increases stimulation."
"The best experience for me was when the lady who never responds
to anything, opened her eyes and held Benny's paw for some minutes."
"The residents eyes lit up when the dogs walked in to the
room."
"The best experience was the smile on the bed-bound lady.
She rarely speaks at all but we got her to say a few words."
For further details describing the requirements of becoming a
"Pets As Therapy" volunteer check out:
Australian site: http://www.velmaspetsastherapy.com.au
American site: http://www.dog-play.com/home.html">http://www.dog-play.com/home.html
This information package compiled by Velma Violet Harris, Program Manager, Velma's Pets As Therapy.
PO Box 324, Killara NSW 2071, Australia. Email: velma@velmaspetsastherapy.com.au
The content of this information package has been derived from several sources including Velma's Pets As Therapy training manual and the Internet. No deliberate or known breach of copyright has been undertaken in compiling and providing this information package.
All contents and information on the benefit of pets and the training of pets are of general comment. I strongly recommend that all legal and insurance issues be discussed with a professional solicitor and insurance agent, plus a veterinarian and professional dog trainer, prior to undertaking any voluntary work especially involving pets.
This web page is intended solely for people who have contacted Velma's Pets As Therapy directly. It is confidential and may contain legally privileged information.
This web page is subject to copyright. No part of it should be reproduced, adapted or transmitted without the written consent of the copyright owner Velma Violet Harris.
