Jackson Behavioral Health Hospital - Journey Through Pet Therapy

Vicki Sevilla, MS, OTR/L

Animal Assisted Therapy is a modality widely used in healthcare settings due to its multiple benefits, both physical and emotional.   Various studies have shown that pets can decrease blood pressure, ease pain, lower cholesterol, and improve immunity.    

From a behavioral health perspective, quality of life along with hope, self-acceptance, having meaning and purpose in one's life, and management of symptoms are the ultimate goals of recovery.   Recovery is the achievement of well-being directed by the patient.  Specifically, studies show pets help to decrease stress, anxiety and depression. Pets allow us to express feelings through animal contact that may be blocked or inhibited when having to deal with human interactions.   

Animal interactions assist people in coping with life situations that can be overwhelming.   Not only do pets allow for non-verbal interaction, but also depending on the context of the interaction, pets can increase socialization. For example, persons with dementia often reminisce about the pets they have had in their lives.   For people who experience anxiety, stress, traumatic events, and depression, pets provide an opportunity to connect with a living being that is accepting, non-judgmental and offers unconditional love.   Pets encourage people to nurture and to be nurtured.  Having a pet that cares for you and that you care for improves mood and adds meaning and quality to one's life.

The Jackson Behavioral Health Hospital experienced the benefits of pet therapy firsthand when we had our very own pet therapy dog named Dreidel.   Our journey began when one of our staff members rescued Dreidel from the Greater Miami Humane Society and later had her certified as a pet therapy dog.  For seven years, Dreidel was a highly recognized and cherished member of the behavioral health team. Dreidel consistently attracted the attention of clients, staff and visitors as she trotted down the corridors of the hospital often donning a fashionable outfit and always wearing her hospital ID.  

Patients who were not able to demonstrate feelings, communicate through words, who were isolative, and who were not able to participate in other group activities would engage in sessions in which Dreidel was present.   Often we would see a transformation in the patient's expressions and behavior in response to Dreidel's presence. Through pet therapy sessions with Dreidel, patients had the opportunity for reminiscence, social interaction, and group discussion. These are often areas patients with behavioral health issues struggle with on a daily basis. 

Since Dreidel's retirement in 2004, the Jackson Behavioral Health Hospital has greatly missed this therapeutic service which positively impacted the lives of so many patients.  Even today, patients, visitors and staff talk about Dreidel and share their fond memories of her.   Since Dreidel retired, we have been actively searching for another pet therapy pup to trot in her paw steps and follow her legacy.   

If you are interested in volunteering at Jackson Behavioral Health, please contact Canine Assisted Therapy at 954-990-5175 or send us an email at info@catdogs.org 

Back to top  

VOLUNTEER MENTORS NEEDED!  

Would you enjoy being involved in pet therapy but you don't have a dog? Maybe your dog isn't interested in doing therapy work? Please consider becoming a mentor for new volunteer teams.  

Mentors will be asked to work with new therapy teams after they have passed the initial team evaluation and after they have observed and experienced therapy team in action.  

Responsibilities will include helping new handlers learn the basics of pet therapy which will include: How to read their dog's body language; teach patient approach and interaction; overview of the policies and procedures of pet therapy, etc.

The mentoring program and training is currently being developed and will be launched in January, 2014.  

If you may be interested in the fun and exciting volunteer opportunity, please call our office at 954-990-5175 or email us at info@catdogs.org. Back to Top