This morning I attended a meet-and-greet at Newport Beach’s Oasis Senior Center with Canine Companions for Independence, a California non-profit that provides assistance dogs for people with disabilities.

Receiving some puppy love from sweet Cajun, an eight-month-old assistance dog in training.

Another assistance dog in training, Patches, and friends at the Oasis.

We are looking to adopt a therapy dog, or puppy/dog that could be trained to be a therapy dog to visit with our clients, as well as at hospitals, nursing homes and rehabs.

Animals can offer us incredible support! I remember reading an article in the New York Times some years ago, “Creature Comforts” about exotic service animals: parrots, monkeys, etc. and the amazing care they provided their owners. An African Grey parrot named Sadie travels around with her owner Jim in his backpack and is able to talk him down whenever he is on the verge of a psychotic episode: “It’s O.K., Jim. Calm down, Jim. You’re all right, Jim. I’m here, Jim,” she says. And she can sense one of Jim’s episodes coming on well before he can.

Those of us who grew up with pets know that there is a particular experience of love and acceptance that animals can provide. According to Web MD, studies have shown that pets can help relieve depression, reduce heart rate, reduce tension and improve mood. And that is what we are hoping we might be able to provide our clients with a therapy dog.

For some of our clients, caring for an animal has become too difficult with age – having to bend over to feed or pick up after a pet, walking them daily, etc. – and they’ve had to give much-loved pets away. I’m hoping that our therapy dog will be able to offer them that joy again.

Further Reading & Resources

How Dogs Help with Depression by Laura Horton of Hound 101

How Pets Help Manage Depression by Kara Mayer Robinson, Web MD