The Joy Of A Four Legged Friend

1. The Joy Of A Four Legged Friend Becky Parrish Volunteer, Therapy Dogs International (Occupation: Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner)

2. Objectives • 1. List the benefits of animal visitation in assisted living facilities. • 2. Identify 3 facilities or situations where a therapy dog would visit.

3. What Animals Are Used For Pet Therapy? • Most frequently used animal is a dog, but others include: • Birds • Fish • Cats • Horses • Zoo Animals

4. What Kinds of Conditions Can Pet Therapy Affect? • General Healing • Mental Disorders • Mood Disorders • Pain • Stress

5. What Are The Health Benefits? • Reduces: • Blood Pressure • Pain • Respiratory Rate • Anxiety • Negative Mood State • Depression • Fatigue • Increases energy • Provides comfort, enjoyment, distraction • Increases self esteem

6. What’s the Difference? • Therapy Dogs vs Service Dogs? • Therapy Dogs • Trained to provide affection and comfort, not to perform specific tasks for a disability • Privately owned • Make social visits to various institutions • Totally voluntary service • Not protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

7. Therapy Dog Requirements • American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen • Different organizations add additional requirements for testing • Not frightened by • Equipment in medical facilities • Equipment commonly used for mobility

8. What’s the Difference? • Service Dogs • Specially trained to perform specific tasks • Different organizations train dogs for specific groups of disabilities • Common dogs used: • German Shepherds • Laboratory Retrievers • Golden Retrievers

9. History of Therapy Dogs • Started in WWII • 1976 Elaine Smith, RN • 1982 Nancy Stanley founded Tender Loving Zoo

10. Where Are TherapyAnimals Used? • Commonly thought of: • Hospitals • Assisted Living/Nursing Homes • Hospice

11. Hospital

12. Assisted Living

13. Hospice

14. Schools & Libraries

15. Reading

16. Rehabilitation Facilities

17. Veterans

18. Mobility Issues

19. Staff Members

20. Family Members

21. National Organizations • Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs • Love on a Leash • Pet Partners (previously Delta Society) • Therapy Dogs Incorporated • Therapy Dogs International

22. Local Therapy Dog Groups • Geographical • San Francisco • Central Ohio • Palm Springs • Greater Austin, TX • Baylor Health Care System • Florida • Chicago • New Jersey • Oklahoma • Massachusetts

23. Are There Safety Concerns? • Safe • No Transmitted Infections

24. Places using Therapy Dogs • Mayo Clinic, Minnesota • National Institutes of Health, Maryland • UC San Diego, California • Concordia University, Wisconsin

25. References • Complement Ther Clin Pract. Aug 2009; 15(3): 141-146. • Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2013 Apr;17(4):322. • South Med J. 2014 Apr;107(4):265-73 • "Information Resource on Assistance Animals for the Disabled". Nal.usda.gov. 2011-09-19 • Revised ADA Requirements: Service Animals. (2011). Retrieved June 23, 2014, from http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.pdf

26. Contact Information Becky Parrish parrishb2@me.com Cell: 515-669-3686 Therapy Dogs International Email: tdi@gti.net www.tdi-dog.org 973-252-9800