Miracal Pets
April 12, 2010
Just
about everyone I know owns a dog. I include myself in these
statistics. My Basset Hound, Claude, is now seven years old. He has comforted me
through a
broken elbow, a bad case of pneumonia and a whiplash. There is
something
about those big knowing brown eyes that makes me feel understood and
cared for. This may have been my imagination. That doesn't matter.
It's
how I felt and others feel when they are in the presence of a loving
dog.
I use Claude as a therapy dog in my private practice. He accompanies me when I work with children and some adults who enjoy dogs, but have a hard time opening up.During the sessions, Claude will sit by them on the couch and rest his head on their knee. It's amazing how my clients seem more relaxed and willing to start to talk about their real issues as they pet those floppy ears.
Research shows that people who own dogs and cats tend to live longer. This is especially true of single people. Taking care of a pet can give one, prone to depression, a reason to get up in the morning. It's amazing how many people I have met just by walking Claude. Dogs bring people together initially because they have their dogs in common. As they talk many times, they discover that they have many more things in common and a friendship is born between the dogs and their owners.
I have a client who has terminal cancer. She has less then a year to live. Having her dog by her side gives her such comfort and it has improved her quality of life. She and I both agree that her little dog keeps her alive because she has a purpose and a furry companion who needs to be cared for.
I use Claude as a therapy dog in my private practice. He accompanies me when I work with children and some adults who enjoy dogs, but have a hard time opening up.During the sessions, Claude will sit by them on the couch and rest his head on their knee. It's amazing how my clients seem more relaxed and willing to start to talk about their real issues as they pet those floppy ears.
Research shows that people who own dogs and cats tend to live longer. This is especially true of single people. Taking care of a pet can give one, prone to depression, a reason to get up in the morning. It's amazing how many people I have met just by walking Claude. Dogs bring people together initially because they have their dogs in common. As they talk many times, they discover that they have many more things in common and a friendship is born between the dogs and their owners.
I have a client who has terminal cancer. She has less then a year to live. Having her dog by her side gives her such comfort and it has improved her quality of life. She and I both agree that her little dog keeps her alive because she has a purpose and a furry companion who needs to be cared for.
Posted by Jane A. Hill, LCSW, MSW
