10-year-old girl who is deaf - teaches her dog sign language

MSN.com featured a wonderful article about a 10-year-old girl who is deaf who had taught her dog sign-language. I love this!

Read it here:

msn.com/en-us/video/peopleandplaces/10-year-old-deaf-girl-teaches-sign-language-to-her-hearing-impaired-dog/vi-BBu47ez?ocid=spartandhp 

Three-legged cat adopted by girl who lost arm to cancer

There was a story about a 3-legged cat who was adopted by a girl who was an amputee. The girl had lost her arm to cancer.

This story sounds like something out of Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen's Chick Soup for the Soul books.

Read about it here:

http://www.boredpanda.com/doc-three-legged-cat-amputee-girl-scarlette/

Tip: don't pet a service dog

Dear friend,

The link below tells a story of the importance for "not touching/ petting/ or distracting a service dog."

Go to the link for info.

http://www.jumblejoy.com/dont-pet-service-dogs

Of course, different dogs have different training.

I had attended learned about a dog at an ATRA conference in MN that people were allowed to touch. It was a dog trained in emotional empathy for people. 

Elephants used in therapy to help kids with autism Check

Check out this article:

Elephants are being used in therapy to help children with autism:

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/trunk-therapy-how-elephants-are-helping-thailands-autistic-kids-n433636

Animals Therapy helps local Veterans

Here is a link to a story about Caring Hearts Animal Therapy, which helps local veterans:


http://www.ldnews.com/local/ci_28785023/caring-hearts-animal-therapy-group-helps-local-veterans

Non-profit organization is seeking funds to maintain horse (therapy) facility

A Therapy/ non-profit organization is seeking funds to maintain horse facility.

Read about it at the link below. It includes video


http://abc7chicago.com/health/therapy-non-profit-seeks-funds-to-maintain-horse-facility/976089/

Here is another link for this:

http://patch.com/illinois/joliet/horse-ranch-special-needs-kids-needs-help-0

Shelter dog helps boy with autism

Here is a story about a shelter dog helping a boy with autism hug his mother for the first time:

http://www.today.com/pets/shelter-dog-helps-boy-autism-hug-his-mom-first-time-t17686

Use of horses in therapy

Information about use of horses in therapy


http://www.horsechannel.com/horse-news/2014/10/23-equestrian-vaulting-as-therapy.aspx

Chihuahua helps improve a dying man's health

A dying man was granted his final wish, which was to be able to see his Chihuahua.

 

The hospital staff broke their "no-pets policy," and allowed the man's Chihuahua to visit.

 

The power of animals is amazing. His health is steadily improving.

 

Read about it here:

http://blog.theanimalrescuesite.com/lastwishreunion/?utm_source=social&utm_medium=arsfan&utm_campaign=lastwishreunion&utm_term=20141022

exotic therapy animals

Here is a story about exotic therapy animals that greet recovering patients at John Muir Medical Center:


http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2014/09/24/exotic-therapy-animals-greet-recovering-patients-at-john-muir-medical-center-in-walnut-creek/

Dog helps child with Downs Syndrome

Read the article here:

http://www.the-open-mind.com/this-child-has-downs-syndrome-how-his-dog-deals-with-him-will-make-you-think-twice-about-animals/

Surf (Service) dog.

My good friend, Rachel Gucwa sent me a youtube link and said, "this video will make you smile." She knows me well.

She also said, "Rec therapy at it's finest!!! Now I just need a dog and an ocean!!! Have a good day! :0)."

I love this video!



Dogs help humans with so much.

Learn ways dogs can help teach children character traits like: accepting others, having empathy, being respectful, honest, and more.

Go here:

Dogs Help Veterans.

Mark Thompson had written an article for Time that was featured today (Dec. 5, 2010) called,
Bringing Dogs to Heal: Care for Veterans with PTSD.

As a Recreational Therapist, I am familiar with animal-assistance dogs and dogs that are used for therapeutic healing.

In a nutshell, Thompson’s article was about Brad Fasnacht (26 y.o./ staff sergeant) who had been seriously injured when removing mines from roads in Afghan. Brad had broken his spine and both ankles and was in a stupor for two weeks. He had traumatic brain injury and now suffered with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Brad had awoken from his stupor at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. Walter Reed uses dogs in their therapies. Thompson reported that Dr. Sandra Barker (Virginia Commonwealth University) had pushed for the program at Walter Reed. I [Danny Pettry] also I imagine there was a strong push from their recreational therapists, too.

Brad received a therapy dog, Sapper, (an Australian cattle dog mix) to help him with his PTSD.

Barker has published several studies. A 1998 study found that patient’s anxiety dropped twice as much when spending time with dogs as it did compared to standard therapeutic recreation (music and art) that was provided.

Barker had also published in 2003 a study that showed significant reduction in fear among patients scheduled for electroconvulsive therapy (after spending 15-minutes with a dog).


You can read the full article here:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2030897-2,00.html#ixzz17IaZTGtw

Dogs are humankind’s best friend for sure.


Dogs and (some cats) were used in my children’s book to teach social skills to children. The book features pictures of cute animals to illustrate concepts such as: being fair, considerate, empathetic, and generous.

Get the book here:



NEED CEUS?

Recreational Therapists and other allied professionals can register for a self-study course titled “Therapeutic Outcomes for Using Dogs as a Pet Therapy Approach.” It is worth 5 clock hours of continuing education at my web-site.

Go here to register for it and other courses:

http://www.dannypettry.com/Courses.htm