Therapy in action
Medical science shows that interaction with a therapy dog can reduce blood pressure; promote physical healing; reduce anxiety, fatigue and depression; and provide emotional support. Our dogs love human contact and have no language barrier! We'd like to show you the calming and therapeutic effect that a therapy dog can have on your patients, clients or residents! Sometimes a therapy dog just sits or lies quietly while being petted - listening to story after story about a nursing home resident's former dog. Sometimes a therapy dog will visit an elementary school to help teach children about the humane care of animals, or join in during story time to help relax the group. But, did you know that a therapy dog can help a child to learn? A child who has difficulty reading is the perfect candidate to curl up alongside a therapy dog to enjoy a good book. Studies show children find the non-judgmental ears of a therapy dog the perfect choice to hone and improve their reading skills. A therapy dog may also work with disabled or autistic children. In a hospital setting, a therapy dog might visit patients in pediatrics, oncology, or even hospice centers. Sometimes a hospital will invite a therapy dog to visit the emergency room because of the calming effect on patients, doctors, nurses and staff members working in the high-stress environment.