Article: Soothing creatures

WHEEL POWER
BY ANTHONY THANASAYAN

Pets can do wonders to enhance the well-being of the handicapped and the elderly.

AS president of Petpositive which was set up to provide animal-assisted therapy (AAT) for disabled and elderly Malaysians, it is no secret that I am a die-hard believer in the power of pets.

My three canines empower me daily through their active presence. Pets make a difference in the lives of almost every handicapped and elderly persons who come in contact with them.

Petpositive was formed two years ago and we are pleased to say that at least 110 of our members have benefited in some way or other through our activities. This was accomplished through close encounters with pets or by stroking and bonding with animals.

The pets that we have enlisted so far are common domesticated animals such as rabbits, cats and dogs. We have roped in horses and used fishes too.

Some unconventional animals have also made “guest appearances” as our therapists from nature. They include several wild frogs, a monkey and a pride of peafowl.

Petpositive has not had the opportunity yet to work with creatures such as snakes and non-poisonous spiders.

Whilst the thought of such creatures may send shivers down our spines, they are often in reality better suited for certain disabled and elderly individuals.

People with profound disabilities and mobility restrictions, for example, may find slithering and crawling companions much easier to handle and care for than rabbits or birds.

Having said that, dogs are still one of the best pets for AAT work, provided the individual is not unduly intimidated or fearful of their presence.

We had the opportunity to watch our canine therapists at work at our last AAT-cum-nature-therapy session. It was held at the Botanical Gardens in Kepong, Selangor, a fortnight ago.

This time, we decided to keep the numbers small. We invited five participants. A smaller group meant there was more time for us to get to know each other, including our pets.

Almost all the participants brought their pets along. One participant with a muscle-weakening condition said she could not bring her dog along because she feared he might not behave well in a new environment.

Another participant, who became blind a few months ago, related how everyone in his family was trying their best to cope with his sudden handicap. This included his pet dog, which after sensing his blindness, now goes over to him and licks his hand to let him know that she is around. No one taught the dog to do this.

A participant in a wheelchair stretched out his hand to pat an Alsatian lying down next to him. He said he would like to have a dog one day. However, he could not as the occupants in his house did not like pets.

He asked if Petpositive could help him find a pet when he moved to his own home. We nodded enthusiastically.

The participants also shared about their struggles and disabilities.

All who have pet companions testified that it was their pets which understood and appreciated what they were going through daily.

I have been to scores of meetings and events involving the disabled and never once have I seen people opening up so easily than when their pets are by their side. Petpositive wishes to create more of such opportunities.

Whilst we are still looking for a centre in the PJ/KL/Klang area, we are also looking for an immediate location to provide AAT to small groups of disabled and elderly persons on a monthly basis. The venue will be a place where our members can come with their pets or be exposed to them there.

If you can help, kindly contact us at 012-220 3146, e-mail petpositive@yahoo.com or visit www.petpositive.blogspot.com.

This article was taken from: The Star Online: Lifestyle: Focus 12 June 2008