The Citizen, 1997-06-25, Page 7THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25,1997 PAGE 7.
The power of pets put into program for seniors
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
For centuries, humans have
known the characteristics of a true
best friend, being non-judgmental
and offering unconditional love.
More recently, however, just what
this type of companionship can
mean to the aging, lonely and ill has
been getting some attention.
Having seen the effect a dog had
on psychiatric patients at a hospital
in her native England, Doreen
Newell now of Peterborough,
decided, along with her husband,
Jim, that there was a need for a
program of this type in Ontario. In
1992 a pilot project, led by the
Newells got underway with six dogs
and eight people participating.
Today there are over 2,000 Ontario
Therapy Dog Program graduates,
under the sponsorship of St John
Ambulance, doling out their special
brand of compassion. There are also
programs in Alberta,
Newfoundland, Manitoba and
British Columbia. Doreen says
programs will be started in New
Brunswick and Nova Scotia in the
fall.
St John's involvement came about
because the organization recognized
that the growing senior population
was going to mean more people,
living more time in retirement
homes, cut off from normal day-to-
day contacts. Tina Murphy, a public
relations person with St John said,
the therapy program is a natural
extension of the organizations' care
of people in communities.
Huron County's Therapy Dog
Program, co-ordinated by Vicky
Parent of Goderich, started this past
February. One of its 11 graduates is
Rambo, owned by Jane Hoggart and
family of the Londesboro area, is a
regular visitor at the county homes
for the aged, Huronlea in Morris
Twp., just south of Brussels, and
Huronview, at the edge of Clinton.
The homes Program Co-ordinator
Ann Brabender says Rambo is such
a hit that if residents are in their
rooms and happen to hear that the
dog has dropped by they will come
out to s6e him. "Rambo brings a
smile to many faces here."
The dog is such a hit, she says,
that if residents in their rooms hear
that Rambo has dropped by they
will come out to see him.
And that's not all. Murphy, says
that in addition to raising spirits, it
has been proven that this type of
therapy lowers blood pressure, as
well as calming and soothing
people. 'We can't measure spirits,
but we can measure blood pressure
and we know this works."
The calming influence is based,
primarily, Newell believes on the
dogs' personality. "People know
that dogs are non-judgmental.
Whether you’re old, ugly, physically
challenged, it doesn't matter. A dog
accepts you for who you are. You
don't even have to get dressed up
for a visit with them."
Newell says the dogs also offer
unconditional friendship to
He s a pal
Residents of Huronlea and Huronview have a regular visitor who brings a smile to their faces
every time. Rambo, owned by Jane Hoggart, is a graduate of the Therapy Dog Program,
under the sponsorship of St. John Ambulance. The concept that pets provide not just love and
companionship but have a calming influence supports the idea of having them visit the lonely,
ill and elderly.
residents. "I have seen people who
won't reach out their hand to
anyone, who will reach it out to a
dog."
Newell adds that for many the
presence of a dog can restore a
fond memory. "Some seniors
going into a home will have to
get rid of a pet. When our dogs
visit, many residents see the dog
they left behind."
"You can see their pain fade,
you can see their loneliness dim.
You can even see them
remember," she said. "There are
those who couldn't remember
what they had for dinner, but
they'll remember the dog."
Hoggart had seen the potential
before signing Rambo up for the
program, when the dogs and
owners of an obedience class
decided to visit retirement
homes on a volunteer basis. The
smiles Rambo brought out and
the affection lavished on him
were enough to make her think
that she'd like to give a little
more time to this officially. She
entered the Therapy Dog
Program offered through the
Central Huron St. John
Ambulance branch and Rambo
received his Canine Good
Citizen Certification.
Obviously, the dogs
graduating from the Therapy
Dog Program are special. "Basic
obedient skills are necessary,
but the focus is primarily on a
dog's temperament," says
Newell. The volunteer also
needs to be personable, she
adds.
During training, the dogs are
subjected to conditions similar
to those of a nursing home or
hospital."We have people in
wheelchairs or walking around
with walkers. They are dressed in
hospital gowns. People will drop
things behind them or a stranger
will approach them and we see how
the dogs react," says Newell.
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One of the most important aspects
of the program, Newell says is that
there be continuity and regularity to
the visits. "We encourage the same
dog to visit the same people. Often
you will see that while they might
not know the dog the second or
third time, after a few it eventually
becomes their dog."
"Also, we ask volunteers to
establish a routine. We don't want
someone silting waiting for the
dog’s visit."
In addition to the joy they bring
seniors, therapy dogs are also
brightening the rooms in hospitals,
palliative care centres, special needs
schools, day care centres and
psychiatric hospitals.
"These dogs give companionship
to a group of people who need it
most," says Murphy. "They all need
a friend to visit and care.
The Therapy Dog Program works
by that motto. "We are there to
care".
"That's why the volunteers and
their dogs are doing what they do
and why St. John Ambulance
supports them," said Murphy.
Hoggart agrees. "Rambo is
friendly and has a lot of love to
give. And if he can make even one
person smile in a day, then it's just
that much better."
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