Therapy Dogs
Therapy dogs can be of any breed or mix breed as long as
their temperament is social, calm and friendly with strangers.
Animal-assisted activities (AAA) and animal-assisted therapy (AAT)
are the preferred terms, you may also hear the terms
"pet-facilitated therapy" and "animal-facilitated therapy." They
should not be confused with "service dogs" that are trained to
assist their owners in daily activities.
The health benefits to people from dogs and as well as other
animals have been known and documented in medical studies. Dogs
have been used in hospitals, nursing homes and hospice care.
Their visits are a welcome change from a daily routine and help
to make patients feel less depressed and less lonely.
Two of the oldest and largest organizations in North America
will evaluate and certify dogs for volunteer assignments as well
as network local volunteer groups to schedule visits with
institutions in their area.
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