From: saavik@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Marla Belzowski (K-9's))
Subject: Re: Delta Society and Pet Therapy
Organization: Purdue University
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 18:06:39 GMT

In article <BF2SBXL1@cc.swarthmore.edu> roop@cc.swarthmore.edu (Karen Roop) writes:
>I am just getting started in participating with my local SPCA with the Pet
>Therapy program.  My lab, Winston, and I are about to start the training to get
>certified by the Delta Society.  I am very excited about it and think that
>Winston and I will benefit from being able to help someone out by the
>relationships and bonds that form between patient and pet to help them recover.
>
>Is anyone involved with pet therapy or associated with the Delta Society?  I
>welcome any experiences you can share or advise.  Please post to the net if you
>think others may benefit.
>

I've done quite a bit of work with pet therapy.  Mauii was a 
therapy dog before CGC's were required.  Both Mauii and Wolfie are
registered with TDI -- Therapy Dogs International.  Our vet school
down her at PU has a local Delta Chapter, but I'm not that familiar with
it.  The Vet school students have set up a therapy pets group which
visits nursing homes every friday.  We have everything from BIG dogs to
cat, ferrets, mice, rats, hamsters, and gerbils.  

Something to consider before you start doing therapy work
is your pet.  Some pets are just not suited to therapy work.  If you
have a CGC you're part way there.  Evaluate your pet carefully, is it
reliable, calm, not easily spooked.  If you think you're pet can
handle the situations that may occur (like getting knock by wheelchairs,
or walkers, or petted sometimes rather roughly) then you may right
pet for therapy work.

Also, you need to know what to expect.  Sometime the patients are
not "all there".  We had a fellow in our therapy group get really
worried when one of the patients kept pleading for water.  He ask me
if he should get her a drink.  I told him to get a nurse to help him.
When the nurse arrived she told him that that patient always asked for
water even when she had it in her hand.  It was just a habit that
was developing from old age.  He was still very worried about that
patient, but there really wasn't anything anyone could do for her.
My sister worked in a Nursing home this summer.  She told me that many
older people in nursing homes have little quirks that would make you
think they are being killed, starved, or abused when really they are
just fine.  Be prepaired for some real eye openers.

Therpay work can also be a lot of fun.  One old lady that look like she was 
about 100, loved Mauii.  She kept trying to get Mauii up in her lap on the
wheel chair.  You just have to picture this.  A little tiny lady that
looks like she would break if you touched her was calling big fuzzy
Mauii into her lap and Mauii kept looking at me like "what do I do now?"
I told her be careful, and that's exctly what she did.  She carefully put her
feet up on the wheel chair seat next to the lady's legs and put her head on
her lap.  The lady practically squeeled with excitement.  She called
Mauii closer and closer, until Mauii had her feet on the wheel chair arms
and her head on the lady's shoulders.  The lady just sat there hugging
Mauii around the neck and giggling.  Mauii just looked back at me like,
"Ok now how to I get down."  It was just great!!!


Have fun with therapy work!

---------------------------
Marla Belzowski   saavik@mentor.cc.purdue.edu
Mauii Nikki Belzowski CD CGC TDI CERF
Brittish Legend of Beowulf CD CGC TDI CERF  tri-color collies
Legend's Year of Jubilee  6 mo sable and white collie  (1st show Nov. 15)