When I would initially report "I took my dog Ariel to the hospital today", my friends' responses ranged from a gasping "Oh No!" to looks of heartfelt sympathy. But after a short while, those consoling comebacks were replaced with the exuberant "How Wonderful!" and gleeful smiles.
That's because Ariel and I proudly served as certified Delta Pet Partners, visiting hospitals and nursing homes while providing Animal Assisted Activity (AAA) and Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) to patients and residents in need.
Human-animal interactions have been proven to provide a number of benefits to children, adults, and the elderly:
Empathy: identifying with and understanding the feelings and motives of another.
Outward Focus: bringing individuals out of themselves.
Nurturing: promoting the growth and development of another living thing.
Rapport: a relationship of mutual trust or a feeling of connection or bonding.
Acceptance: favorable reception or approval.
Socialization: seeking out or enjoying the company of others.
Physiological Benefits: positive effects on the basic functioning of the body.
Mental Stimulation and Increased Communication.
What difference can one girl and her dog really contribute in just an hour or two each week? Plenty! And fortunately, it's NOT just one girl and her dog! This enjoyable and extremely rewarding human-animal bonding experience is steadily increasing in popularity.
Thousands of registered Delta Pet Partners teams participate across the USA and internationally, helping over 1,000,000 people each year. Their national network links volunteers with local facilities that request visiting pets, and helps Pet Partners contact facilities to begin visits in new locations.
The array of species that brighten the world for physically and emotionally challenged individuals includes dogs, cats, horses, birds, rabbits, guinea pigs... even llamas, goats and pot bellied pigs! Apple, a Sicilian miniature donkey, spreads joy at the pediatric unit at the University Medical Center in Arizona. Ariel and I alternated visits to a school for deaf children, encouraging them to verbally communicate "sit"-"stay"-"come" commands rather than relying on hand signals, and visits to a local Senior Center where elderly residents joyfully recounted stories of their pets of yore while blissfully stroking Ariel's long, soft fur.
The requirements for participation are specific but they're not difficult to meet; trust me, if Ariel and I could do it, anyone can! Details are available at http://www.deltasociety.org.
Pet assisted therapy is an ideal way for you and your dog to spend quality time together while making a huge difference in the lives of others. Check it out!