Pet Therapy: How Dogs Help People

For many people it’s hard to hold back a smile when you are greeted by a happy, friendly yellow lab looking for a pat on the head. Meet Hooper, one of the visiting therapy dogs at Silver Hill Hospital. Hooper is a Hurricane Katrina rescue dog who was adopted by Jane Paley and Larry Price. He excelled in obedience school and went on to do specialized training to become a therapy dog. After two years he went out into the community to spread joy and comfort. Larry began a chess group with patients in the Acute Care Unit and mentioned Hooper to the volunteer director. Shortly after that, Jane and Hooper began visiting the adolescent Transitional Living unit. “No visit is the same, but when Hooper arrives, he usually draws a chorus of “Awwwws,” said Jane. “Some days, a group of kids sit on the floor with us and chat about music or sports while Hooper makes himself available for belly rubs. Other times, he provides quiet one-on-one interactions. We never have an agenda; we go with the flow.” In addition to his two visits per month at Silver Hill, Hooper visits local libraries in Fairfield County, CT and helps kids learn to read by providing a set of non-judgmental ears as kids read aloud. He also works with underserved kids in New York City through the A Fair Shake for Youth Program. And if tragedy strikes a community, Hooper is on hand to provide comfort to the grieving families.

How Do Dogs Help People?

When Hooper walks into the room it’s second nature for him to try to calm someone who is anxious or cheer someone up who is sad. Research has shown that a person gets a surge of oxytocin and serotonin, the feel-good hormones that calm us, just by petting a dog or cat. Besides cheering people up, dogs can improve our health in a number of other ways including:

• Immune System Boost – Dog owners get sick less often
• Healthy Hearts – Petting a dog can lower blood pressure levels
• Depression Relief – A dog is a source of nonjudgmental companionship. The responsibility of caring for a dog makes the owner more active, less isolated and boosts self-confidence.
• Laughter – We know laughter is good for us and most dogs provide countless laughs each day.

  Sources: Mental Floss, Psychology Today, Health Magazine