therapy
Pets are more than just playmates; all about pet therapy and the healing power of animals.
Dogs and Mental Health
I've always been an animal lover. In the late-90s my family adopted an English Springer Spaniel and every morning that dog would end up in the room I shared with my brother. We would take turns laying with him until we had to rouse ourselves for school, and when we got home, that dog would be at the door waiting for us. After having that dog for near ten years, he passed away at somewhere around the age of twelve or thirteen. My family was devastated. He'd become a family member, and with that, we loved him. Still, though, I never lost that love of dogs.
By Alex Prange3 years ago in Petlife
The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
What is a service dog? According to the Americans With Disabilities Act, service animals are used to mitigate their handler's disabilities. These highly trained animals are becoming more and more common. With the rise of legitimate service animals, there is also a rise in fake ones. I am a service dog handler myself. Welcome to my story about the daily struggles of being a handler.
By Liv Tanner4 years ago in Petlife
For the Love of Pets
I have had pets in my life since my earliest days, a lot of us have. Few children go through life without asking their parents for a dog (if they don’t already have one) and in my adult life, I remember the joy of picking up my new kitten from the SPCA. My Robby is with me right now, snoozing comfortably on his favorite ottoman across the room. Animal companions fill our lives with joy and comfort, especially in trying times such as these.
By Nicole "ChaseThePen" Sanchez4 years ago in Petlife
Bailey's Story
Bailey's story is a life-changing one, my life. 10 years I battled with life-crippling symptoms and dealt with 17 dismissive doctors that I had started to give up. I had to go to a doctor purely by chance due to a chest infection that wouldn't shift I reluctantly went to a new doctor. When I heard those words "you have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome." confusion would be putting lightly. I had no idea what it was, for hours after my appointment, and I was researching like a demon-possessed. Looking up every website, article, leaflet or Facebook I could find. I would then go on to add Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Hemiplegic Migraines and Non- epileptic dissociative Seizures (NEDS) to my ever-growing list of comorbidities.
By Jess Turns4 years ago in Petlife
MY THERAPIST HAS A WET NOSE
To say that I'm a dog person would be an understatement! What's not to love about our four-legged canine companions? They are always available to provide whatever they feel we may need; often unaware of the fact that was exactly what we needed. You can always rely on a dog to act silly to make you laugh. Or placing their head on your lap at the exact moment that it is so desperately needed. Two of my favorite quotes about our furry friends are: "He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion." -anon. And "Dog. A kind of additional or subsidiary Deity designed to catch the overflow and surplus of the world's worship."- Ambrose Bierce.
By Andres Wiest4 years ago in Petlife
The Pet Effect: How Dogs Can Better Your Life
While dogs can often be overlooked as a simple pet, it is proven that they play a much more beneficial role in an individual’s life. Besides companionship, dogs provide much needed mental relief in their owners — serving as a type of emotional support. Due to this, dogs have not only functioned as a best friend, but as a type of therapy for humans.
By Ban Haidous4 years ago in Petlife