Sunday Special - A Healing Companionship

Dada, my personal therapist

Did you ever feel that your pets get closer to you when you're feeling sick or sad? You're not alone. Every time I am not well, both of my cats are very attentive and get physically closer to me. Maybe not just to enjoy the heat of a fever, as many would believe, but simply because they might know that their presence really makes me feel better.

The healing powers of pets are not just exclusive to cats and dogs. Dolphins, rabbits, llamas and even wolves have been in programs to help humans. This week, Hope, a miniature horse was in the news. She joined other pets on the Sutter Health Paws on Call. The program, which uses the help of human volunteers and their pets is one of the many projects of the growing trend of having pets as therapists. Something that the Mayo Clinic sees as a tool increasingly used by doctors and requested by patients.

Many organizations throughout the US help family pets to share their love with humans who are in the need. Pet Partners  is one of the oldest organizations in the US with national scope, and has many community partners including the ASPCA. It offers online courses so that pet parents can be trained to be a handler and share their pet affection visiting hospitals, nursing homes and rehabilitation services. In San Jose, California, Furry Friends is a volunteer based program and it also includes bringing therapy animals to help children to read. Watch this adorable video: Tales to Tales.

According Dr. David Sacks, MD, on the article What Therapy Animals Can Teach Us About Being Human, published in Psychology Today, the therapy assisted by animals is backed by a number of scientific papers that relate the presence of a pet with human well being. "Animals are physically and psychologically comforting. Anyone who has held a puppy or leaned their head against the neck of a horse after a bad day can attest that animals ease stress. Studies confirm that animals can boost levels of oxytocin, a hormone that reduces anxiety and blood pressure, and can even help extend the life of those recovering from coronary problems", he wrote.