For 7-year-old Tommy, reading was a constant struggle. He felt uncomfortable and embarrassed reading in front of the class. But that all changed when a "reading assistance dog" came to visit his school.
Tommy sat side-by-side with Ace, a golden retriever, and read him a story. He knew Ace wouldn't care if he made a mistake. Tommy enjoyed reading to Ace so much that he started reading to his own dog at home. His teacher began to notice real progress in Tommy's reading skills. She also saw improvement in his self-esteem and confidence - and even in his attendance.
Comfort and healing
Animals like Ace are also being used to help treat the special needs of the sick and disabled. They visit nursing homes, hospitals, hospices and other institutions. Having them near may promote physical and emotional healing at any age. With the help of a therapist, connecting with animals can help some people cope with trauma or even improve social skills.
The companionship of a dog or cat can be comforting and improve well-being. Just petting, walking or playing with dogs has helped some people with Alzheimer's feel better. It makes some remember pets from the past and brings others out of their shells. Relating to an animal has also helped treat some children and young adults with mental disorders. It can raise self-esteem and help reduce loneliness and anxiety.
Service animals
In the home, service animals can help disabled people with everyday tasks. Seeing-eye dogs can help the blind get around safely. "Hearing dogs" can help the deaf by reacting to a knock at the door or someone calling their name. They can also alert their owners to fire/smoke alarms, the telephone or the oven timer. Monkeys have been trained to perform manual tasks for people who can't use their hands or legs.
Equestrian therapy
Riding horses is used as a therapy to treat autism, cerebral palsy, genetic diseases, brain injury and stroke. It has also been paired with other therapies for people with learning disabilities and speech and language disorders. Riding may help improve trunk strength, muscle tone, balance, posture, coordination and endurance. It may even promote feelings of well-being.
As therapy, the horse controls the rider, not the other way around. The rider adjusts his or her trunk to stay in a stable position. The movements that the rider makes in response to the horse are very similar to a normal human gait. This is a physical therapy of sorts for someone who has movement problems.
Equestrian therapy is not covered by most health insurers. However, it is not very expensive.
Volunteer your pet
If you'd like to volunteer your pet as a therapy animal, programs exist nationwide that will teach you how to train your pet. Check with local hospitals, nursing homes, your vet and animal training schools for programs in your area. On the Web, you can find organizations looking for families to socialize future service animals. These families provide them with homes until they are old enough to be trained as service animals.
