I just read an article that touched me. I'ts about the benefits of pet ownership and how pets are being used for therapy. In 1998 my daughter Kelsey, who was 9 at the time, was in a horrible accident. She had 3rd degree burns on 19% of the lower half of her body. I cannot begin to tell you of the pain she suffered with the surgeries, skin grafts, the daily scrubbings. She stopped eating, which is exteremly dangerous since burn victims have to replace fluids lost through injuries. She was supposed to consume at leat 3000 calories a day. We ordered pizzas (her favorite), ice cream, chips, all the junk food a child could want and she would not touch it. Finally, a tube was inserted to force feed her. She would get angry and frustrated and pull the tube out. Sometimes she would pull it out 2 or 3 times a day. One day a nurse told me about a program the hospital ran where people would bring there pets to visit patients. I of course agreed to a visit. The next day the most beautiful, gentle little black poodle walked thorugh those doors. Kelsey was a little hesitant at first. The dog just sat next to her bed. Then she reached out with her hand and the poodle stood with his front paws on the bed. After a little while Kelsey said "you wanna come up here?" The dog then climb into bed with her and lay there as she petted him and talked to him. That day he stayed for about an hour, then his owners would bring him by a couple of times a week. Oh how my baby would look forward to those dates. A change came over her. She started eating, she would laugh and tell silly jokes. She would even get into her wheel chair and go play with the toddlers who were on her ward. I give praise to her nurses and doctors, but I know that poodle (I wish I remembered his name) had a profound impact on her recovery. I would love to get my pug Bandit in a program such as this, he's a very calm dog and loves nothing better than to be cuddled. Jeffrey is a little too hyper. Does anyone here participate in programs such as this, or does anyone know of a similar experience?
Here's the web address of the article.
http://pets.msn.com/dogs/article1.asp
[This message has been edited by Genia (edited December 16, 2000).]
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