By Gina Hartoog

Have you ever been sick in bed and your dog instinctively seems to know you need comfort? Animals  have excellent intuition when it comes to human emotions. Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) can help in the healing and recovery of many people with different illnesses, assist abused children and those suffering from depression. 

Therapy animals who visit hospitals, children’s homes, homes for the elderly and even prisons, give unconditional love, affection and acceptance to the people they visit. “Research has

demonstrated that animals have a calming effect on people and can help to reduce blood pressure and anxiety,” explains Lesley de Klerk of Paws for People. “They tend to make people feel less lonely and bring out positive social characteristics.”

The handler

Therapy dog work is a volunteer service that isn’t for everyone. You need to be an empathetic, calm and friendly person. Patience, compassion and kindness are essential qualities. You should enjoy meeting and interacting with people from all walks of life - from children to the elderly and possibly very ill patients. Students who are studying medicine, psychology, veterinary science or animal health may find the work beneficial to their studies.

Handlers must be responsible dog owners too, keeping their dogs clean and groomed and making sure that all vaccinations are up to date. Handlers are required to carry a file of the dog’s health records and hygiene status. Staff and doctors at the various health facilities can ask for this information at any time. Dogs are sprayed with antibacterial spray before entering the facility.

The

He or she doesn’t need to be a pedigree dog, but does need to be gentle of spirit and social with humans and other dogs. Some degree of obedience training is necessary. Your dog will need to know how to walk with a lead and obey commands. He or she should be able to sit still for long periods, not be easily distracted, and enjoy being touched and patted by strangers. A dog that is aggressive, snappy or doesn’t react well to strangers won’t make a good therapy dog.

Some organisations require that dogs complete at least one level of the Canine Good Citizen programme. It’s a “dog manners and behaviour” programme which teaches doggie etiquette and good social behaviour. It’s very important that the dog and his or her handler share a strong bond. 

Getting involved

Once you have a suitable dog and are confident that this is the right volunteer programme for you, you’ll need to find an organisation and sign up.

•   Call up the organisation and ask about their programme. You may be invited to attend a few sessions without your dog, to get a feel for the work.

•   You and your dog will be assessed for suitability. You may have a personal interview or you may need to fill in an extensive form.

•   Some organisations may require that your dog passes certain tests before he or she is registered. Ask about these and where you can complete them.

•   You will need to commit to a number of visits per month, depending on the organisation with which you work.

Before signing up, always make sure that you can put in these hours. People are counting on you.