Allowing an Alternative Healing Process

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Everyday around the world millions of people experience the amazing bond between humans and animals. Anyone who has felt a connection with a pet and experienced that unconditional love, understanding, and acceptance, knows the value of a pet’s companionship. These qualities make animals the ideal therapeutic visitors for patients in hospitals and other medical facilities. So why is it that some facilities do not want their residents to take hold of this relationship? Therapy dogs provide motivational, educational, and recreational interactions that can enhance an individual’s value of life. Michael J. McCulloch, MD, says that “In an age of research when it is tempting to reduce emotions to biochemical reactions and to rely heavily on the technology of medicine” (One Health Concept) but now discoveries have been made that say animal assisted therapy also aids in the healing process. One of the quotes that McCulloch lives by is “cure when possible but comfort always” (One Health Concept) and that is what animals do, they comfort. Adding therapy dogs into the healing process will make it so we will not have to “rely heavily on the technology of medicine.” Although medicine is a huge participant in the healing process, different people heal in different ways. With animal assisted therapy patients not only heal physically but emotionally also. Due to the fact that therapy dogs are not service dogs, they do not have the freedom to enter public buildings without being asked. Both therapy dogs and service dogs provide assistance to those who require aid and there should not be limitations to the type of assistance given. Even though facilities that do allow therapy dogs share their patient’s progress with other nursing prof... ... middle of paper ... ...Thomas P. Monath. 16 August 2007. Web. April 2011. Nimer, Janelle, Brad Lundahl. “Animal-Assisted Therapy: A Meta-Analysis”. Anthrozoos: A Multidisciplinary Journal of the Interactions of People & Animals 20 (2007). Print. April 2011. “Pet Therapy: Healing, Recovery and Love.” Sniksnak.com. Pawprints and Purs Inc, 2010. Web. April 2011. Phillips, Debra. “Research and Reflection: Animal- Assisted Therapy in Mental Health Settings”. Counseling and Values 48 (2003). Web. April 2011. Rodgers, Kay. Interview. April 2011. “TDI Study: Perception of the Impact of Pet Therapy on Residents/Patients and staff in Facilities Visited by Therapy Dogs.” TDI-dog.org.Therapy Dogs International, Inc, 1998. Web. May 2011. Waltner-Toews, David. “Zoonotic disease concerns in animal-assisted therapy and animal visitation programs”. Can Vet Journal (1993). Web. May 2011.

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