therapy
Pets are more than just playmates; all about pet therapy and the healing power of animals.
Not All Disabilities Are Visible
My name is Brittany. I have been diagnosed with anxiety and depression. I also suffer from panic attacks. This is why I have been training my dog to be my service dog. The one thing that really annoys me is when someone says "Isn't he too little to be a service dog?" The answer is no. Any breed of dog can be a service dog. This also depends on what you will need the service dog for. Having a smaller dog works well for me because when I feel like I am anxious or about to have a panic attack, I can easily pick him up and hold him close to me. I have also trained him to recognize when my breathing is changing and he will jump up on my leg so I can pick him up. If I am sitting, he will lick my face as a way of stimulation. (Some people have judged me on stimulation, however this is a very successful technique as it calms me down and distracts me from the situation.) I feel like some people don't understand this. I also trained him to do this when I say "Alert" so that he knows something is wrong in case my breathing has not changed.
By Brittany Nicole Allen8 years ago in Petlife
A Letter for My Service Dog
Dear Kodiak, Since you came into my life six months ago, you have been nothing short of a godsend. When my seizures took my independence, you gave me stability. When that weird guy came in that I didn't know, but that slowly reminded me more and more of my past and scared me, you were there to pull me back from flashbacks and nightmares and back into normalcy.
By Danielle Dowdy8 years ago in Petlife
Did You Know that an Animal Can Be Your Nurse
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays; the food, the cooking, the parade, the ceremony of it all. And I must say, ours is very peaceful and small, but I cook as if there are ten people here when it's really just two of us and our four fur babies, three dogs and one kitty. I love to cook so the cooking and planning is my favorite. I enjoy that as much as I do eating it all. So I'm not so sure what happened a couple of days later, but I got the 24 hour bug as they call it, fully exhausted, feeling sick, and food coming out of both ends if you know what I mean. I was down for the fucking count. The referee said 10! and I was still out.
By Kimm Smith8 years ago in Petlife
Why I Love My Therapy Dog
About three years ago, my family and had to put down my dog Snoopy. She could no longer walk, eat, or move without being in pain, so we decided to end her suffering. Snoopy was my first dog that I could really remember having memories with, since the first dog my family had died when I was too young to really remember. My family has always had dogs in it, so we didn’t wait too long before getting the dog we have now. It was too quiet in the house without a companion around.
By Katie Jones8 years ago in Petlife
Best Breeds for Therapy Dogs
The choice of a service dog is a completely different process beside choosing a pet, meaning the amount of cuteness and fluff should not be prospects. You may have a personal favorite breed of dog before this process, but what is most important is the dog that will best service your life.
By Kelsey Lange8 years ago in Petlife
How I Help Ease My Mom’s Anxiety
Hi, my name is Moose! I was born on October 15, 2015. My birth mom's owners said I was a mistake, but I knew that I had a purpose. That is when my REAL mom came into the picture! When my mom adopted me, I was very sick, could barely keep my eyes open, and food was not at all appetizing. My concerned mommy took me to the vet and found out that I had level-four Coccidia (NOT FUN)! She did everything possible to get me healthy again. She fed me pumpkin, rice, and a little bit of coconut oil to help my tummy and cleaned up my explosive accidents multiple times in the night. (Sorry, Mom!) My mom saved my life, but little did she know I would be saving her's.
By Victoria Morris8 years ago in Petlife
A Spoonie and Her Service Dog: Invisible Disabilities
My name is Kayla, I'm a service dog handler. My service dog is Clyde and he's my "pawtner in crime." I have noticed that a lot of people are skeptical when it comes to handlers like myself because we don't look disabled so in this article, we are going to discuss invisible disabilities and why you shouldn't tell someone that they don't look disabled.
By Kayla Powell8 years ago in Petlife
Love, Loss, Resilience, and the Art of Never Forgetting How It Feels
Cinammon was a Lhasa Apso that was a part of the tumultuous Frog Encounter family for three years. I was like any 11-year-old, I asked for a dog every holiday and I would let slip how responsible I could be and how having a dog could offer me a lot in terms of lessons lived. My older brother, my senior by two years, played in my games too–often participating in faux competitions for our parent's benefit.
By Triple Decker Sandwich8 years ago in Petlife
Service Dog Dilemma. Top Story - July 2017.
Imagine this, you're walking through the supermarket and as you turn down the next aisle, you spot a dog. You squeal the word "puppy" and walk up to the dog and pet it. That's when you notice the vest with the words "Service Dog" plastered on the side, but you still keep petting. Unfortunately, you just put the dog's handler in danger.
By Kayla Powell8 years ago in Petlife
Doggie Days
I've always loved dogs. From a young age, I was endeared with the soft, cuddly animals that provide unconditional love. However, there was a strict 'no furry pet' rule at my house, largely due to my father. Therefore, I was denied the love of a dog that I so dearly craved.
By J.C. Marie8 years ago in Petlife
