By Riley Polumbus
Soon after Yvonne moved to the Flathead Valley, she adopted Shelby from the animal shelter in Polson, Montana. In addition to the companionship, invaluable during the pandemic, taking Shelby for walks provided Yvonne opportunities to meet people.
“I wanted to get more socialized in the valley and so did my dog,” said Yvonne.
Dog owners reap a bounty of health benefits. They are more likely to get regular exercise by walking their dog or playing in the yard. Getting out for walks or even going to the vet, promotes social connection, which improves mood and overall sense of well-being which builds resilience.
When Yvonne learned she needed open heart surgery she knew getting out and about with Shelby was going to be part of her rehabilitation. What she did not know was that she would share this therapy with many others.
Following heart surgery, Yvonne enrolled in the cardiac rehab program at Logan Health – Whitefish (then North Valley Hospital), where Yvonne learned about dog therapy teams.
Certified dog and handler teams volunteer to come into the hospital and visit with patients, their families and their health care providers, all of whom can benefit from a dog’s presence.
The healing power of animals, and the dog-human bond in particular, has been observed for ages. In the late 1800s British nurse Florence Nightingale noted the therapeutic potential of dogs having observed dogs reducing anxiety of children. In the early 1900s, Sigmund Freud often used his dog in therapy sessions because it helped put his patients at ease.
Considered a supportive therapy, dogs have been recruited into healthcare settings as part of the care team. When a patient encounters a dog the connection can lower their blood pressure and decrease anxiety. Pet teams also help the patient’s family in the same way. When the dog walks into the room, he or she shifts the focus. As Yvonne would say, “the person loses themself in the dog.”
Across the state of Montana, dog teams, certified by Intermountain Therapy Animals, make the rounds at hospitals, Alzheimer’s care centers, assisted living homes and residential treatment centers. Teams visit women and children in domestic violence centers. They go to schools after an unexpected death to help students by offering powerful relief during the grieving process.
They also help children overcome anxiety in the learning process. In the Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) program, dogs help children build skills in reading and speech and also, motivate children to read because they look forward to reading to the dog.
Curled up in a corner of the Whitefish Community Library, a child sits next to the dog, softly petting its back while reading a book. The dog’s partner sits silently by, letting the dog do its job.
“The dog does all the work,” says Yvonne. “She is the active participant with the child, not me.”
If a child needs encouragement, Yvonne might say, “Shelby wants you to read to her.” Often Shelby leans into the child or paws the book.
A mother looks on and smiles and says, “It takes the pressure off reading aloud because there’s no judgment from the dog.”
Yvonne says she enjoys being around the parent and the child for the interaction. “I don’t have any grandchildren,” she says, “Plus it’s fun to know what kids are reading these days.”
Just like humans, dogs benefit from staying active and engaged. Working animals such as service dogs, police dogs, livestock dogs to name a few, play vital roles in their duties.
At Yvonne and Shelby’s third hospice visit, Shelby was drawn to a man in his 90s sitting in a wheelchair. She put her paw on his knee and he began to pet her. They looked into each other’s eyes and just stayed there for a while. At the next visit, Yvonne learned that he had passed away, and that someone had taken a photo of him with Shelby when they were looking at each other. It was the photograph displayed at his memorial service.
Pet therapy teams serve a purpose as volunteers in their communities. In their case it is a win-win-win because all parties involved reap the benefits. MSN
