by Karen Higman
Therapy Animals
Buddy, a therapy dog, regularly visits Holy Childhood. Photo courtesy of Laurie Otto.
Any pet owner will tell you that one of the primary reasons that he chooses to have a pet is because of the companionship and love that is shared. While age-old debates continue between dog and cat owners about which type of animal is “better,” other species can also bring joy to a household including birds and domesticated farm animals. It is the special bond that can form between people and animals and its beneficial effect that serves as the basis for “animal assisted therapy,” or AAT.
The Difference Between Therapy & Service Animals
Gwen Warren, a veterinary technician at Media College and a volunteer at Therapy Animals of Western New York (TAWNY) in East Aurora, says that there are distinct differences between therapy dogs and service dogs. The former are used to visit people in public places or institutions such as hospitals and nursing homes, in order to help reduce stress and make people feel better. The unconditional love of an animal has clinically proven healing power and can provide daily comfort or emotional support in crisis situations such as the aftermath of natural disasters or in counseling victims of crime and abuse. Therapy animals are well-trained and enjoy being around people and participating in social activities. Dogs are used most often in this role, but other species may include cats, horses, rabbits, and birds.
Although TAWNY is an educational provider (they do not certify or supply animals), Warren stresses the importance of doing your research before engaging a therapy dog on behalf of any organization. “The animals need to be certified by an independent organization through generally-accepted tests and be insured for each therapy visit,” says Warren. “I have seen the effects on people and they are heartwarming. When a person pets an animal, it is much like a mother holding and rocking a baby; it truly calms them down.” She has even seen therapy dogs assist kids in learning how to read! “Kids will read aloud to dogs and it helps them because they won’t hold back like they would with a parent or teacher,” Warren says.
There are many local organizations that benefit from the help of therapy animals, including Holy Childhood, a Rochester-based, non-denominational, non-profit agency that has enriched the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities for more than 65 years. “We have been working with Buddy (a dog) and his owner, Mike Fiorella for more than four years and it is amazing to see the relationships that have been formed, as well as the boost in self-esteem and confidence in the students,” says Kathryn Miller, Assistant School Program Director at Holy Childhood. “The growth for some may be evident within a thirty minute visit or over time, but the smiles on the students’ faces are priceless! Buddy is a great friend and our number one cheerleader to all of us at Holy Childhood.”
Service dogs are sometimes confused with therapy dogs because both provide a benefit to people, but service dogs are really part of a class of “assistance dogs,” which along with guide dogs and hearing dogs, assist people with disabilities to complete essential tasks so they can increase their independence and improve their quality of life. According to the national group Paws for a Cause which provides services to people in 30 states and has trained and placed more than 2,500 assistance dogs, these animals can be utilized in traditional and innovative ways. Guide dogs are most commonly used by those with visual problems including blindness, but they are effective helpmates for people with many physical disabilities. Paws for a Cause also works with hearing dogs for people who are hearing impaired/deaf; seizure response dogs for people with seizure disorders; and service dogs for children with Autism.
Local Therapy Animals Make A Difference
The Greater Rochester area is fortunate to have resources for those seeking to use the services of therapy animals as well as for people who may be interested in serving as volunteer animal handlers for therapy visits. Equicenter, located on a 200-acre horse farm in Mendon, is a therapeutic equestrian center serving children and adults with a wide range of disabilities, as well as at-risk youth, veterans and their families. According to Equicenter President & CEO Jonathan Friedlander, the physical composition of a horse is similar to that of a human, so when a person is on the back of a horse the movement radiates up through the body and recreates walking for the person who is riding. “Therapy with horses builds self-control because the rider is influencing a 1,500 pound animal, “ says Friedlander, “which helps the person gain confidence and build trust and communication skills.”
Michele Schilling has seen the direct impact that therapy animals can have on a person. She credits Equicenter and its volunteers with making a transformational change in her daughter, Ella, who is almost four years old and has Pitt Hopkins Syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder with about 350 diagnosed cases worldwide. Ella has been coming to Equicenter for two years and volunteers like Ruth Meyers work with her to clap her hands to communicate and grab rings while she is riding to work on her fine motor skills. The gentle nature of the horses and the calming effect that they have on their riders is evident to Ruth and to Ella’s mother, Michele. “It’s amazing to me that working with one animal can help my daughter with her gross and fine motor skills as well as her communication skills,” explains Schilling. “Ella clearly enjoys it and she is excited when we drive in to Equicenter. She communicates through her face because she can’t speak yet, so for me to see her excitement and her progress is so amazing to watch; it’s special.”
With the proper training and handling, animals can provide a unique level of therapy to people with many physical, emotional, and psychological challenges. It is critical to work only with animals and trainers who are professionally prepared for this work, or to seek out organizations who use animals as part of their program offerings.
Karen Higman is a Rochester-based freelance writer and a consultant to local non-profit agencies.
Rachel Blum is an Editorial and Journalism Intern from Pittsford Sutherland High School.
Why & How Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) Works
Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is a type of therapy that involves animals as a form of treatment to improve a person’s mental, social, or physical well-being. Although degree programs in this field are not common, some schools offer graduate-level certificate programs to those in related fields such as counselors or social workers. These programs relate to both human psychology and animal welfare. There are also plenty of national and local organizations that help train volunteers to work with animals so that they can take them on local therapy visits to schools, hospitals, nursing homes and other venues. The goal of AAT is to improve a patient’s social, emotional, or cognitive functioning. Sometimes the animals participate in organized activities and other times they socialize with people informally. Most people that have participated in AAT agree that — given the proper training of handlers and animals – the unconditional love exhibited by animals has a healing effect on all.
According to the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, research shows that contact with animals increases attention span, cooperation, physical mobility, motor coordination, and language skills while simultaneously reducing stress, anxiety, hostility, and maladaptive behaviors. Moreover, animals augment traditional forms of therapy by teaching the critical skills and rewards of nurturance, play, acceptance, trust, kindness, feelings of self-worth, and love.
For more information about Equicenter, visit www.equicenterny.org
For more information about Holy Childhood, visit www.holychildhood.org
