Animal-assisted therapy

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Outside, on the driveway to the house we were visiting, Little Bay (the rescue dog that I had with me) seemed insecure; tail slightly tucked between her legs, body shaking whenever a passing car made a sudden loud noise as it dropped into the depression in the road.

Her nervous behaviour was understandable. Since December 2021, when she was rescued – as a pregnant mother – at night from a desolate beach, she had never left the quiet comfort of foster care to spend any time in a new public space, with the exception of the vet's clinic, where she had gone to be spayed and boarded until recovery.

The front door opened and Wayne, our kind host, welcomed us in. As Little Bay and I entered, she relaxed; the quiet, dimly lit front room felt safe, almost womblike.

We were ushered into a sunlit room where an elderly gentleman sat at the edge of a bed, pen in hand, copybook on lap, a page covered in doodles.

“This is Popo,” Wayne said, also introducing me and Little Bay. Upon seeing Popo, Little Bay began to wag her tail and advanced confidently towards him.

His already-smiling face had burst into a higher wattage of radiance upon seeing the dog. It was as if the two shared an ancient bond, transcending the impression that they were meeting for the first time.

In her gentle, ladylike manner, Little Bay sat before Popo, staring up into his eyes as he stroked her head, his face illuminated by what appeared to be a mix of extreme joy and slight awe.

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Had he ever had a dog? Was Little Bay triggering a memory of happy childhood days? Or was this simply a physically and verbally challenged elderly man’s joyful response to the fact that another living being – a complete stranger – had approached him with such trust, instantly expressing only love and acceptance?

The softness of the interaction between man and dog was almost tangible, filling the room with a dreamlike aura that touched us as we looked on.

It has been scientifically proven that companion animals (of various species) offer many health benefits to human beings.

However, as this article is about the encounter I witnessed between Little Bay (dog) and Popo (a senior citizen), let us use this example to look at some of the many advantages of this special brand of therapeutic relationship.

1. There is potential for improved mobility and a healthier lifestyle for the human, resulting from increased exercise through dog-walking and/or play.

2. Gently stroking a dog, especially one like Little Bay, with her gentle nature, can assist in lowering blood pressure, heart rate and stress levels.

3. The warmth and companionship inherent in the human-animal bond can provide emotional support and has been proven to reduce anxiety and depression. This is excellent for seniors and those who may spend much time alone in bed or a room.

4. Dogs are excellent, non-judgmental listeners. Popo is verbally impaired and the experience of having Little Bay respond lovingly and with rapt attention to his utterances provided a space for him to confidently express and share feelings to one who did not need to comprehend and relate to him through "words."

5. There can be an increase in self-confidence, personal worth and sense of usefulness when an elderly person has the opportunity to care for a dog – gentle grooming, feeding and other easy-to-manage responsibilities.

6. Interaction with dogs has proven an excellent way of helping people to manage mental health conditions.

A friend in Germany who owns two homes for the elderly adopted two rescue dogs from Tobago. One of them, Ginger (rescued as an injured, skeletal dog from the Tobago rainforest), accompanies her daily to work. Ginger is a favourite with elderly patients; they stroke, hug and play with her and some even fall asleep in peace with her lying next to them.

My friend reported that Ginger’s presence also seems to activate the minds and joyful emotions of some patients with Alzheimer’s, possibly taking them back to happy childhood memories when they had beloved pets of their own.

Animal-assisted therapy is beneficial for young and old, and has a proven track record of clinically measurable biological responses. It is unfortunate that this form of therapy is not recognised and practised in homes and hospitals in Trinidad and Tobago.

If interested, contact me to keep this conversation going. We can make this happen.

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