Hello all, and welcome back to part two of my blog about unusual service and therapy animals! I thought it would be a good idea to start were I left off, so I figured it would be best to recap the unusual service animals that we saw in my last blog. So far, I have shown to you, Redrock the Boa Constrictor (personally, I think I might be just a little worried and/or frightened for any owner if I saw a snake beginning to constrict around someones neck, even knowing if it was a service animal) , the Capuchin monkey (who knew monkeys could provide us with an extra set of hands), and Sadie the Parrot. All very unique service animals.
For this next animal, it is astounding how big, fluffy and furry they are, care to take a guess? I think, when I
say this, it goes for most people, what a surprise it would be to see a llama and alpaca in a hospital visiting the elderly and various other floors with children and adults. These two are Rojo (the llama) and Napoleon
(the aplaca) and no matter where they go, everyone seems to enjoy a good smile and laugh when they're around. In the video, you will be able to see the
impact they have, on everyone in the hospital whether
it be the staff or the patients, as well as their owner, who is delighted with the reactions everyone has concerning these two silly looking animals. (All information is narrated in the clip)
Another impressive therapy animal are dolphins. In Antalya Turkey, a doctor, by the name of Murat Kemaloglu, includes swimming with dolphins as a part of his patients therapy. ( Dolphin Therapy 1) Often the swim will encrease awareness to the world around him or herself. Also, the sonic waves emitted by the dolphins play a huge roll in the physical and psychological healing process. (Dolphin Therapy 2)
Does anybody else find it interesting that dolphins have such capabilities when it comes to assisting and healing people? Perhaps even more captivating that llamas and alpacas make great therapy animals? These animals have caught my eye because of how unique and unheard of they are when it comes to the service and therapy animal world, and they have certainly given themselves a great job title, and made themselves at home with that title.
You were brief about the llama and alpaca, how exactly did they help other than making people smile. Also how did the dolphin's sonic waves help physically and paychologicaly. It was interesting but please elaborate.
ReplyDeleteTherapy animals (in general) are supposed to make people enjoy therapeutic activities, such as, petting the animals or giving them treats (as seen above). Rojo and Napoleon encourage (in a way) people to reach out their hands to pet them and give them pieces of carrots (or whatever treat they are getting), effectively making them move without them realizing that they are actually doing therapy.
DeleteIn response to your other question, it is believed that a dolphin's use of sonar aids in the replenishment of the humans "body tissue and cell structure". Also, a dolphins use of echolocation (their capability to navigate using sounds that bounce back off of objects) is POSSIBLY effective psychologically by getting and keeping one's attention, as well as possible being to assist in the development of one's movements ( "motor skills"). More information can be found at this site: http://www.twu.edu/inspire/dolphin-therapy.asp
DeleteYes, I agree with Marc. I don't quite understand what type of patients these animals are helping? Are they sick? Are they in pain? I don't know enough about the subject to doubt your explination about the echo-location treatment, bnut I would like to read more about exactly WHO is being helped in these cases.
ReplyDeleteThere is no specific patient when it comes to therapy. The elderly (as seen in the alpaca/llama video), the sick (anyone and everyone in hospitals, such as cancer patients, those recovering from surgery, parents of those recovering etc.) as well as those with a limited degree of motion can be helped through therapy with animals. The therapy is built to fit the patients, therefore the program changes based on the needs of a certain patient. Doctors often discuss with the therapy animal's handler what goals they have set for their patient's session. With a larger group of people however, the goal of such session is for the whole of the group rather than just one person.
ReplyDelete