The Joy

Of Pet Therapy

Pet Therapy involves taking a certified Therapy pet (any pet, but usually a dog)
for visits with people of all ages who are otherwise confined to a facility of any type,
such as a hospital or nursing home.

Research has shown that pets can be very therapeutic and reduces stress.

* A study of 92 patients hospitalized in coronary care units for angina or heart attack
found that those who owned pets were more likely to be alive a year later than those who did not.
The study found that only 6 percent of patients who owned pets died within one year
compared with 28 percent of those who did not own pets.

* Watching a tank full of tropical fish may lower blood pressure, at least temporarily.

* Petting a dog has been shown to lower blood pressure.

* Bringing a pet into a nursing home or hospital can boost peoples' moods and enhance their social interaction.

* A study conducted at UCLA found that dog owners required much less medical care for stress-induced
aches and pains than non-dog owners.

* In a study conducted at City Hospital in New York, it was found that heart patients who owned the pets were
significantly more likely to be alive a year after they were discharged from the hospital than those who didn't own pets.
The presence of a pet was found to give higher boost to the survival rate than having a spouse or friends.


Knowing all of this makes us fully understand how lucky we are
to have pets in our lives, but it also makes us realize there are
many people who are no longer capable of caring for an animal or who are
in a facility where they can not take their pet.
If they were forced to leave an animal behind it could easily lead to depression.
Studies have also shown a positive outlook can be key to regaining health and
a longer life.
These and many other reasons have led Pet Therapy to become our passion.
To see how people's eyes light up when we enter the room with dog in hand
gives us more pleasure than we can describe.