On Oct 6, 1:45*pm, (Jo Wolf) wrote:
> I've owned cats and dogs, and have taught dog obedience classes for over
> 20 years.... and have done Therapy Dog visits in many facilities for
> almost 20 years. *I also am an RN with over 30 years experience, ranging
> from clinic to bedside to facility supervison, most of it in the US
> Army.
>
> NO to any mammals in waiting rooms of physicians' offices; the allergy
> problem, and the staff doesn't have time to supervise the animals and
> the uncontrolled kids that clients bring in. *A nice aquarium is
> adequate. *Television is better. *A nice aquarium is almost a
> requirement in a dental clinic waiting room.
>
> Certified or registered Therapy Dogs must pass behavioral/training tests
> with the person who will handle them during visits. *They must meet
> specific health and hygiene standards. *Membership in a national
> organization that provides certification or registration also provides
> hefty liability insurance. *The same is true for cats, birds, horses,
> and a host of other species used regularly in this role. *This applies
> to the US; I don't have details about other countries. *I am very
> familiar with the requirements of the "big three" national therapy
> dog/pet organizations....
>
> Each facility determines where which animals may go. *We Never go into a
> patient or resident room unless invited. *We Never get up close and
> personal with a person who does not agree to it. *We do go into
> hospitals, and the childrens hospital our group serves takes one or two
> dog-owner teams to intensive care at times. *Both physician and parental
> consent is required. *At the other hospitals, it is a door-to-door on
> specific units. *These dogs are Not permitted to roam loose. Ever. *They
> may be off leash during a demonstration of skills and tricks that
> require being free.... but these individual dogs are well trained for
> this purpose.
>
> The simplest form of animal assisted therapy is a "visit"..... fun,
> diversion, petting. *More complicated forms include the animal being
> part of actual therapeutic activities prescribed, supervised and
> evaluated by a medical professional. *One of my dogs endlessly retrieved
> objects tossed by recovering stroke victims..... and all have stood
> stock still for up to five minutes to be brushed by patients working on
> upper extremity range of motion, movement control and endurance. *In
> group therapy sessions, the animal's presence just eases communications. *
>
> Many groups also work in schools, teaching safety around animals and a
> little responsible ownership, or to reinforce or enrich some specific
> lesson material (I've done a lot of high school biology class sessions,
> and some elementary school sessions on the senses). *"Read to Rover" is
> a popular program in which kids who have a very hard time reading and
> reading aloud in the classroom read to a non-judgemental dog away from
> that classroom. *(One of our schools cleaned up a broom closet for this;
> the dog's owner brought in a comforter for dog and kid to occupy, and a
> folding chair for her own use.)
>
> In assisted living facilities, pets are often permitted, as long as the
> owner can care for them. *In nursing homes, pets may be owned by the
> facility and cared for by one or more staff members as a matter of job
> description; dogs and cats may or may not be permitted to roam, but if
> they are, they soon learn who doesn't want contact. *In a few nursing
> homes, for selected residents, personal pets, such as small dogs or a
> cat, May be permitted by individual arrangement. *These facilities
> usually permit visits by family pets... and.... not always
> appropriately.... encourage taking them to visit "everybody". *I've had
> a family member's unsuitable dog charge out of a room to try to attack
> my dog during a scheduled Therapy Dog visit....
>
> Note that hospitals Must permit the service dogs (seeing-eye, signal,
> and other specialties) of patients to remain with them, but it is the
> family/patient's responsibility to provide all care for the animal, and
> the service animal is Never permitted to roam outside the room.
>
> I have been told by a veterinarian who is a professor of (animal)
> communicable diseases that our dogs are probably bacteriologically
> cleaner, and of less threat of infection, than most human hospital
> visitors. *We test and observe to vastly reduce the possibility of a
> Therapy Dog causing injury during an assignment due to misbehavior of
> any variety... by far the greater concern. *Basic good manners are
> required at the least, but many are highly trained in obedience and/or
> in special skills for work in rehabilitation facilities. *A sound
> temperament and "bombproof" personality is critical. *
>
> Therapy Cats are more difficult to find; they must travel comfortably
> and tolerate strange new places and Like new people. *We've found that
> cats with a cat show career, present or past, are more likely than the
> family pet cat to fill the role easily. *Domestic rabbits are pretty
> good at this work, too.
>
> In general, trusted and appropriate (reptiles rarely welcome....)
> animals in a theraputic role can reduce blood pressure, pulse,
> respirations; reduce stress; improve communications; facilitate mastery
> of physical skills; entertain; facilitate learning.
>
> I hope this has clarified or at least extended your understanding of the
> role and use of animals in health care and some types of residential
> facilities. *There are volumes written on the subject. *Hippotherapy,
> therapeutic horseback riding, is a whole other "world" and very
> specialised, with it's own requirements.
>
> Jo in Georgia

Very informative post- thank you!