Being a Therapy Dog

by Timery Crawford

Dogs have been saving our lives ever since they became man's best friend. Whether it's Lassie saving Timmy from the well, FBI working dogs helping to apprehend criminals, or even your own pup greeting you every day when you come home, dogs are a species that truly lives up to its "best friend" title.

Anyone can tell you dogs are therapy for the soul, but there is scientific evidence that pups are good for your body as well. For instance, studies show that petting a dog can lower blood pressure and relieve stress. What's more, one-on-one time with a pooch can alleviate depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Another study suggested that spending time with a dog can be more beneficial to hospital patients than just spending time with a human.

Canines are even helping doctors and researchers diagnose diseases. In an experiment reported in an issue of "Integrative Cancer Therapies," dogs were trained to detect early cancers of the lung and breast. After the training, the pups were given breath samples of people with these cancers, and then breath samples of healthy people. The dogs identified the cancer breath samples at an astonishing 90 percent, giving strong evidence that they can detect these cancers.

The benefits of interactions with dogs are so numerous that organizations have "pet assisted therapy" programs for patients in hospitals and other institutions. The idea of "dog therapy" is not a new one: dog spends time with a patient in need. The interaction leaves the human happier, less stressed, and possibly healthier than before. This enables the patient to feel better and heal faster. In some ways, it's what dogs do for their owners every day.

Of course, not every pooch is qualified to be a part of a pet assisted therapy program. Owners must have a record of their pet's vaccines, which include rabies and hepatitis. Also, dogs must be calm and comfortable around new people, as hospitals can be stressful places, for people and pups alike. Many organizations require that pups be at least one year old and properly trained in order to bond with patients.

Ready to show the community just how special your dog is? Therapy Dogs International, Inc. (http://www.tdi-dog.org/whatdo.html) can answer your specific questions and provide the tools for a dog in any of the 50 states to get involved with pet therapy. Another way to get involved is to check out local hospitals and nursing homes to see if they have volunteer programs that support pet-assisted therapy. And, if there is no institution in your area prepared to take on pet assisted therapy, let a friend in need "pet sit" your pup for a few hours. In these ways, you too can help save a life, just by letting your "best friend" be someone else's friend, too.