Tag Archives: pet therapy

Heavy Petting is Good for Your Heart

Spending some time petting or brushing your dog or cat is GREAT for your four-legged friend. The stroking helps stimulate circulation, ease sore or tired muscles, and best of all, lets your pet know that he is loved. A dose of petting helps you bond with your pet and help keeps his coat shiny and healthy. Hey, pets get stressed, too! Does your dog quake during a thunderstorm or get upset when you head out to work in the morning? Some special snuggle time helps your pets relax and feel good. Cuddling with your best friend is good for YOU, … Continue reading →

Pet Therapy: Sympathetic Pups

Having a pet can help reduce stress and ease feelings of loneliness. A recent study reports that they can also help ease nervousness! UCLA studied seventy-six patients who had experienced heart failure. Some visited with a friendly canine; some visited with a friendly stranger. The folks who had a visit from a four-legged friend saw a huge drop in anxiety levels — anxiety scores went down twenty-four percent! The people who had dog visits also saw a seventeen percent drop in levels of epinephrine, a stress hormone. The folks with the two-legged visitors did see some easing of nervousness and … Continue reading →

Canine Reading Assistants

It’s a sad scene from any number of old movies and TV shows: little boy or girl heads for the bus, faithful dog following. “No, doggie, you can’t come to school with me!” Close up on sad dog face. But don’t be surprised to see a dog at the school or library these days. Around the country, canine reading assistants have been joining children who have trouble reading for story time. The programs have different names – READ (Reading Education Assistance Dogs, out of Salt Lake City, UT); HART (Human-Animal Relational Therapies of Mahopac, NY); and more. But they all … Continue reading →