Building Paw-Sivity through Pet Therapy

If you own a pet of one sort or another then you know the feeling of comfort that an animal companion can bring. That heartwarming feeling of having a long day and seeing your dog at home, waiting for you with all the enthusiasm in the world. The calming and grounding presence that a cat can give you when they make your lap into bed and fill the room with their soft purr. I myself have a long history of working with animals that goes all the way back to my local nature center which I would spend many hours exploring as a child and working there as a young adult. 

When it comes to animals in the therapeutic space there is a long history of animals helping people with anxiety, process trauma, or just feel less alone in life. In my case my therapy dog Blue takes on this role. Blue is different from other dogs in services. Where you often see golden retrievers, labs, and other similar breeds, Blue tends to stick out a bit. Blue was adopted from Hall county shelter and they found him abandoned in a trailer with 8 other dogs. Take a moment to imagine what he felt in that situation. He probably felt scared, sad, lonely, and other emotions that most of us can deeply relate to. Thankfully though that is only the start of Blue’s story. Through having a loving home, playful siblings, and gentle training he has become a story of resilience and recovery. He regularly works in an intensive therapy setting and visits clinics around Georgia to spread his message. 

Now what are some things that you can expect a therapy animal to help with? Well there’s a lot, but I will try and give a general overview. Often when you come to a therapist it’s anxiety inducing, if not scary. To invest in therapy means being incredibly vulnerable and that is inherently scary for most people. Often what people say they appreciate most about Blue is the way he helps put them at ease. His wagging tail and the weight and pressure of his head on your lap is a comfort I can also say helps me when I am stressed. In working with Blue many of my clients also learn some nuances about building relationships. Therapy animals also offer a really good lesson on self care. Animals are incredibly good about listening to what their bodies tell them. If your dog is hungry they’ll ask for food, if they are stressed they will shake or lick, and if they feel unsafe most animals will attempt to remove themselves from the situation. They don’t feel bad about listening to their own needs or making sure their own emotional cups are full. I know that if I took care of myself that actively I would have more energy and motivation to give to others. 

There is a world of possibility when it comes to pet therapy and at its core is the human desire to feel connected with another living thing. So if you are thinking you could benefit from pet therapy or want to know more please do not hesitate to reach out. 

Also, here is a picture of Blue as a reward for reading this post. :)