Buzzin' with Buzz

I was reflecting today on how my life (and this FBC period) has been enhanced by our newly adopted dog, Buzz.

 

 

Despite his diagnosis of Exercise Induced Collapse and the occasional Counter Surfing, he has brought love, light and joy into the life of our family (Silver Lining!).

Thinking about him, and the comfort he has brought to me on my darkest days, reminds me of how powerful Pet Therapy is for people in a health crisis.

Pet Therapy  is designed to improve the physical, social, emotional, and/or cognitive functioning of people of all ages. Many kinds of animals are used in therapy, including dogs, cats, birds, dolphins, rabbits, lizards, llamas, and other small animals.  In my clinical work, dogs tended to be the animal most often used (though I did know of a hospice that used llamas!).

I witnessed the most astonishing transformations in patients during and after a pet visit. Many people showed an increased awareness, attention span and interest in the world around them, all thanks to a visit from a pet.

There are a number of reasons for this:

• Positive therapeutic experiences help minimize the stress of an illness.
• The presence of animals reduces anxiety and enhances coping skills by providing a distraction from illness.
• In a hospital, animals normalize the experience by making it more “home-like”.
• Animals provide the most amazing feelings of unconditional love and acceptance.
• Animals can open a channel of emotionally safe, non-threatening communication.
• Animals have a way of accepting without qualification. They don’t care how a person looks or what they say. Heaven knows that of all the souls in the world, Buzz has seen me at my very worst.  The bottom of the barrel. An animal’s acceptance is nonjudgmental, forgiving, and uncomplicated by the psychological games people often play. They accept you the way you are.  Buzz doesn’t care that I forgot to use the
• In the hospital, the presence of animals encourages socialization. I have vivid memories of how it was easier to talk to patients during and after animal visits. Family members would often come during the animal visits and comment that it was an especially comfortable and pleasant time to come.
• Mental stimulation occurs because of increased communication with other people, recalled memories, and the entertainment provided by the animals.
• In situations that are depressing or institutional, the presence of the animals serves to brighten the atmosphere, increasing amusement, laughter, and play. These positive distractions may help to decrease people’s feelings of isolation or alienation.
• Animals are 100% present and have no agenda.
• The animals accept and are open to whoever the person is and whatever the person needs. There is no pressure on the person to do or say anything. No expectations.

 

 

Now that I am on “the other side of the bed”, I have the great honor and privilege of utilizing the alternative treatments (such as pet therapy!) that I so often highly recommended to the patients for whom I cared (SL). This is a great gift for which I am extraordinarily grateful!

An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language.

~ Martin Buber