Puppy uppers: the healing power of animals in therapeutic recreation.

Most of today's children's hospitals are working towards a child-friendly environment. White walls have been splashed with bright colors, age-specific playrooms have been developed and even the nursing staff has added design and color to their white uniforms. In an effort to further bring warmth to and alleviate fears of the children it serves, Shriners Hospital for Children in Chicago provides assisted pet therapy for patients.

Children often become shy in unfamiliar surroundings. A dog can bring some of that familiarity back. Children brighten when an animal is introduced to their environment. The animal can absorb a child's focus and often alleviate the anxiety of upcoming procedures. The dog can serve as a conversation starter between the therapist and the patient. By inquiring about pets the patient may have at home, the focus of the conversation is redirected from the patient to the dog. This increases the comfort level of a child while they are in the hospital and opens the lines of communication between the patient and therapist.

Shriners Hospital holds pet therapy groups in a large, open and highly visible area. Children who aren't yet comfortable joining the group can observe the session from a distance and participate when they feel ready. Children who don't have pets at home may be reluctant around a strange animal. The kindness of an animal is demonstrated while interacting with other patients. Ultimately, the children decide if they would like to participate.

While in a hospital, children are in control of few aspects of their care. Pet therapy teaches them commands for the dog, such as "sit," "bark" and "roll over." A child can take control and be assertive with the dogs while leading them through their tricks. This acquired authority boosts the child's self-esteem. Children are also taught how to properly walk a dog. This is a positive experience, especially for those maneuvering a wheelchair.

Always a Friend

A physical or mental disability can often be quite visible. Children learn at an early age what it's like to be viewed as "different." A child will often experience stares or feelings of neglect from their peers for reasons surrounding their disability. An animal doesn't see these differences as humans do. The job of a therapy dog is to show immediate interest in the child. These dogs accept and interact with the child despite any visual differences.

Therapy dogs need to be interested in interacting with people by nature. The patient may experience a negative response if the dog isn't interested in him or her. Dismissal from the animal may confirm a child's fear of rejection. In contrast, a dog that is too friendly can be considered aggressive towards patients in the hospital.

Therapy dogs should never initiate contact; they need to be invited by the patient. For example, a dog that's overly excited may jump up on a patient's bed. This can be very startling to someone who isn't used to being around animals. Therapist and pets need to be especially careful around patients just returning from a surgical procedure or who are connected to equipment. An aggressive dog could end up irritating an injured area of the patient. Dogs who are too excited can cause problems by wagging their tail excessively and dislodging pertinent equipment.

Therapy Goals

Shriners Hospital uses assisted pet therapy to improve patients' psychosocial well-being. Pet therapy uses the bond that exists between a human being and an animal to achieve a positive therapeutic outcome. These animals help to increase a child's level of happiness while in the hospital.

Animals used in animal-assisted therapy serve a different purpose than those used in pet therapy. Animal-assisted therapy uses activities such as brushing or petting a dog to improve mobility, hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. The breed of dog and other characteristics are discussed to develop a patient's memory recall skills.

Pets can also reside in group homes or treatment facilities, thereby giving patients the responsibilities surrounding their care. Patients take on chores such as feeding, walking or grooming the animals. The patients are accountable for the schedule surrounding the animals' care. Strong organization by staff is required for this type of situation to be successful.

Pet therapy can help therapists achieve the individual goals of patients. The animals provide a great diversion for children. Petting or brushing the dog is a calming and enjoyable experience. A patient's heart rate can decrease as they become comfortable and relaxed with their visitor. A therapy session can also involve learning commands for the dogs. This type of session leads to patients feeling a sense of achievement when the dog responds to a command they have given.

Children also need to learn to work and play cooperatively with peers. In working with two dogs, games and races can be incorporated into a therapy session. Patients are split into teams, and must work together with a dog to achieve a common goal. The excitement is heightened in adding competition from another team. The dogs can compete by racing through hoops or retrieving a number of objects.

During a group pet therapy session, it's important to incorporate all of the patients in the activities. In an activity, children of all languages can participate in learning the signs and commands for the dogs. Patients with more functioning can be in charge of holding the hoops or tunnels for races. Children who are confined to their beds are responsible for calling the dog's name and instructing them to complete a task.

Learning the Ropes

The animals used in pet therapy must go through special training and a series of tests before being allowed to work with children in a hospital. Several trained dogs visit Shriners Hospital, but a variety of animals can be used in pet therapy The dogs are trained to sit still for long periods. They're also accustomed to being around wheelchairs and other adaptive devices. The dog's reaction to constant touch and to loud noises is examined, focusing on the children's safety around the animals. The health of each animal is also examined yearly. There are several national organizations that the dogs can receive their certification through. To indicate completion of their certification, the animal wears a red coat. These animals are then permitted to enter a hospital.

Pet therapy can be done in a group session. The dogs can also be brought room to room, including intensive care, if the child is unable to get out of bed. Allergies of all the children must be assessed before allowing a dog to enter a hospital room. Sometimes just a visit from a pet is all children need to brighten their spirits. Six certified pet therapy dogs currently visit Shriners Hospital. These animals make an appearance with their owners several times a month to visit the children. Some dogs work with smaller groups or one-on-one with a child, while others attract a large audience.

During a therapy session, the children learn about the dog's training and the significance of the red coats. Information about the dogs is presented, such as their breed, age and things they like to do. Bookmarks with information on the dogs make a wonderful souvenir for a patient, and cameras are a wonderful aid in capturing the moment.

The sheer power displayed by merely the presence of an animal is amazing. Animals can make positive changes in a hospital experience for a patient. By reducing stress and anxiety, these animals become the prescription for improved health and well-being. Most important, the animals bring enjoyment and put a smile on children's faces while they're going through a difficult and possibly scary time.

RELATED ARTICLE: NRPA Executive Director Search Underway.

The National Recreation and Park Association, in Ashburn, Va., is conducting a search for an executive director for this outstanding organization with a $9 million budget, 60-person staff and 23,000 members.

The association is seeking an individual to continue to raise the visibility of the organization with its key constituencies, including in the public policy arena; build on the success of the annual conference, including educational programming; increase non-dues revenues; assist the organization through a change in governance structure; and manage a dedicated and talented staff. The successful candidate will need a broad knowledge of association management with strong financial management experience. Key attributes also include a comprehensive background in parks and recreation; strong track record in non-dues revenue; a dynamic leadership style; and excellent oral and written communication skills.

Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to Executive Director Search, NRPA, 22377 Belmont Ridge Road, Ashburn, VA 20148. To apply by e-mail, send your resume as a Word attachment to [e-mail]. For more information, contact Alice Conkey, chair of the search committee, at [e-mail] or 301-490-3256.

Shannon Rathsam, CTRS, is a recreation therapist at Shriners Hospital for Children in Chicago, Ill. She can be reached at [e-mail].