Paws to Read: an Animal-assisted therapy

On March 12, 2016 I attended an Animal-assited/Pet Therapy session with Banjo, a R.E.A.D therapy dog, at the Temecula Public Library. Banjo is part of a program ran by the Temecula Public Library known as Paws to Read that helps children practice their oral reading as well as relieve any anxiety related with reading (and with dogs). The program is hosted by the Temecula library, but all of the therapy dogs and their handlers are volunteers who donate their time to the library on a rotating Saturday schedule.

 

Banjo, a fluffy Pomeranian and the holder of Temecula’s “Cutest Dog” title, is certified and trained through the organization Pet Partners, a non profit organization that trains handlers and their pets for Visiting Animals Programs.  Animals trained through Pet Partners are put through vigorous training programs that prepare the animals to work in a variety of settings: hospitals, veterans centers, courtrooms, schools, juvenile detention centers/prisons and many others.

Nancy, Banjo’s handler and owner, has been a volunteer with Pet Partners and the Temecula Public Library for 9 years. She was originally drawn to the work because, while a pet owner her entire life, she was looking for a closer connection with her animals.

I decided to participate in an Animal-assisted therapy session because, in addition to being an animal lover, I have always marveled at the innate healing abilities that animals possess. I admire working animals in all capacities— from simple horse and buggy to specialized service animals. I believe that animals can play an integral part in alternative therapies when working with children in different school settings.

Paws to Read is both an academic intervention, helping children strengthen their reading skills and a behavioral intervention that helps with social interactions and anxieties. I had the pleasure of speaking with some of the parents who brought their children to read to Banjo. Jean and her husband brought their 4 year old every Saturday to “read to his dogs”, she mentioned that they had been coming for almost 2 years. I learned that their son had been an early reader (age 2) but did not enunciate his words and was also very shy. Coming to read to Banjo not only increased his reading ability by leaps, but also improved his self-confidence and relationship to other animals.

(For a video of  Banjo listening to his buddy read, click here)

Animal-assisted therapy/Pet Therapy can be used in a variety of situations.  Paws to Read, specifically, can help build confidence by reading aloud, can promote a love for reading, reduce shyness and fear of an audience, improve socialization and help with mindfulness. Therapy animals can also help to reduce stress, this is especially useful for students! Many schools and universities bring in therapy dogs to help students de-stress during finals week such as Dalhousie University's Puppy Room and SDSU’s own Baxter!

Animal-assisted therapy is a versatile tool that can be used on anyone regardless of age in both group or individual settings! In settings such as libraries and schools, the experience is educational as well as calming. In hospitals a visit from a therapy animal can be a much-welcomed distraction (like this therapy llama). In senior centers/nursing homes animal visits are a source or enrichment and nostalgia. Pet therapy can also be used with those who have developmental disabilities as it helps them learn and practice new skills as well as provide a judgment free environment and allows everyone to be in the moment.

Nancy, Banjo’s owner, shared with me some specific examples of pet therapy that she has been a part of or has heard about from Pet Partners. Such events include: USO troop movements to reduce anxiety and stress for the soldiers, visiting Alzheimer’s nursing homes to improve patient interaction and avoid social withdrawal, as well as Juvenile detention centers to help youth cope with emotions of being in detention (these cats and prison inmates help each other).

Watch this video of adorable puppies relieving stress and providing comfort in 3 different settings!

 Each view donates one pound of food to shelter dogs

Animal-assisted therapy has been around in various forms since the early hunter-gatherer days. Sigmund Freud actually brought his dog Josi to his Psychotherapy sessions. There have been several studies conducted regarding Animal-assisted therapy with positive results and implications. In a study published by Complementary Therapies in clinical practice: AnInternational Journal states that patients who participated in pet therapy had significant decreases in pain, respiratory rate, and negative mood and an increase in perceived energy levels. Furthermore, a study developed by the UCLA Medical Center also had similar positive results. The effectiveness of pet therapy can be assessed by pre and post surveys, as well as self reports for clients (and parents of small children).  Additionally physiological responses could also be measured using Biofeedback.

Here's a video of Banjo showing me his best tricks!

I felt much more relaxed afterwards

While there are many benefits to Animal-assisted therapy, there are some things to be considered for both animal and human participants. Some things to be considered are the temperament and level of the therapy animal. Some animals may be better suited to working with older clients or in calmer settings. Additional considerations should be allergies and fear; some people may not be suited for pet therapy because of previous issues with animals or health concerns. Training and the age of the animal are also key; handlers should be well aware of the limits of their animal companions—some older animals may have less stamina than younger animals and thus will tire easier.

Banjo is very proud of his Canine Good Citizen vest and certification. 

He loves coming to the library and visiting his friends at the hospital

However, despite these considerations and limitations, Animal-assisted therapy is an amazing tool that can help both School Psychologists and School Counselors. In the future, I hope to integrate Animal-assisted/Pet therapy into my work as a School Psychologist. I believe I can incorporate it into my practice by creating awareness of the use of therapy animals and organizing workshops at the school or bringing in groups of volunteers to visit student classrooms. I believe the Paws to Read program is a creative and useful tool that can help children thrive in academics and in social settings.

Special thanks to the Temecula Public Library, the families, and Banjo for letting me join in on such a cool experience!

For more information on Animal-assisted/Pet Therapy please visit:
TherapyAnimals.org
AAT for Professionals (via Pet Partners)
AHI (Animal Health Institute)
R.E.A.D: Reading Education Assistance Dog

Angela Cerda

School Psychology Trainee

San Diego State University


*underlined text links to relevant citations and information used in this blog post