When crisis strikes, it often leaves survivors traumatized and frightened. Sometimes, people need a cold, wet nose and wagging tail to get through where other people cannot. Therapy animals can make all the difference to a child who is trying to process trauma. They bring focus back to students sitting for exams. They serve as listeners and friends in instances when a child cannot speak to an adult, but can open up to a dog or cat or guinea pig.
Pet Partners and HOPE are two organization that provide therapy animals to those who need them most. Patients in hospitals have been shown to make vast improvements when exposed to therapy animals. Seniors in rest homes have greater cognitive abilities. The joy and hope animals bring to those who are injured or hurt or feeling despair is healing.
“There is a need for therapy dogs,” says Keena Jones, president of HOPE, “all kinds of dogs from Yorkies to Great Danes.” Other animals are welcome as well. Pet Partners is open to accepting dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs and even miniature horses as therapy animals, although they do not accept barn yard animals.
The service animal has to be friendly. They must like being around people. They’ll need to enjoy being handled, and be accepting of strangers. They also have to have basic obedience training. If you think your pet might make for a good therapy animal, there is a process which begins with an interview to see if your animal might be a good fit for the program. Once accepted, you and your pet will have to undergo specialized training. There is a cost for this training, though there are some grants which might subsidize the expense so it’s worthwhile to ask if you need financial assistance.
Pet Partners service animals work for two-hour sessions, though HOPE, because of the nature of their service, might send you to a location where you’ll spend more than one day ministering to the needs of the community.
Ms. Jones is a common sight in Munising. Children are welcome to come read to her dog, Madison, over at Falling Rock Café on Saturday, December 30 between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m.. She promises to listen attentively to each child. At the end, each child who reads to Madison gets ice cream, courtesy of the café and Madison noisily devours a pup cup. The reading level of the children who participate with Madison has notably improved.
“It’s your dog, but they provide comfort to others.” Ms. Jones explained about the service she provides to the community. Her previous dog, Bella, was interred at the Michigan War Dog Memorial due to the service she provided to veterans.
If you want to volunteer you and your pet, call Pet Partners or visit their website for more information.
