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Canine Assisted Therapy
What do Canine Therapy Assistants actually do? ©
Promote
a general feeling of well being ©
Provide
unconditional love ©
Improve
focus and hopefulness ©
Interact with those who can’t
communicate ©
Encouraging memory ©
Assisting with speech functions
©
Assisting with simple physical
activities/physical therapy situations (petting, brushing ,playing etc.)
Volunteers who take their dogs to visit hospitals, nursing
homes, day care programs, and many other types of facilities for the purpose of being petted & socializing with the residents/clients are
called Therapy Dogs. Health care professionals or certified therapists
who use their dog, or work in partnership with a volunteer and the volunteer's dog, using the dog as a treatment modality
in a written, individualized treatment plan with specific, documented goals are performing Canine-Assisted Therapy. This what Ladies with Leashes programs and
services are founded on. The Benefits There has been increasing awareness, particularly over the last thirty years, of how
canine assisted activities and therapy might be used to improve the quality of life for individuals. Canine assisted
therapy is the consistent and specific use of dogs in professional care plans to help patients reach defined treatment goals.
They are used to help normalize situations, socialize, calm and motivate patients. Dogs
are particularly well suited to this work because of their desire to work with humans, and there ability for unconditional
love. Those that have benefited from canine assisted activities and therapy include: nursing home patients, shelter residents,
special education students, including autistic children; and hospital patients.
Service Dogs: -Highly trained in disability-related tasks and obedience -Have public access rights -Are not considered pets Service animals are legally defined (Americans With
Disabilities Act, 1990) and are trained to meet the disability-related needs of their handlers who have disabilities. Federal
laws protect the rights of individuals with disabilities to be accompanied by their service animals in public places. Service
animals are not considered "pets." Social Signal Dogs: - A social signal assistance dog is an innovative teaching tool used by social workers, therapists, physicians,
early education and special needs teachers working with children and adults with physical, emotional and developmental disabilities.
Individuals with histories of sexual or physical abuse often need a catalyst to prompt disclosure. A Social Signal assistance dog, non-judgemental and unconditionally loving, provides the help necessary to identify children in crisis. -Need documentation -Are allowed in "no pets" housing -Are allowed to travel with owners on airlines (if they have the proper documentation) -Are not allowed in public places like grocery stores, etc. Under the USA's federal laws, Social Signal Dogs
cannot go into no-pets-allowed places, BUT THEY ARE ALLOWED in no-pets-allowed housing and
in the cabins of airplanes when accompanied by proper documentation. Canine Assisted Therapy dogs &Therapy Dogs: - The value of therapy dogs has been demonstrated
time and again. They offer more than just a warm furry body; many dogs instinctually
understand when someone needs comfort and offer it unconditionally, without judgment or obligation. -Are used by volunteers or professionals in places like nursing homes, children's hospitals, psychiatric wards, etc -Do not have the right to travel on planes or to be in "no pets" housing -Are not allowed in public places unless invited |
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