Reaching out: A request for help.

Yesterday, after an extremely busy day, I was invited by my mom to attend a seminar. She had already registered us (always thinking ahead!) and stated that with all I've been doing lately, its a perfect topic : "How to manage your stress". Stress. THAT'S what this feeling of clenching my chest, sweaty palms and rapid breathing is! You see, work - my work in AAT - is not stressful to me. Its a joy. The stress comes from outside sources, of which we all face and will continue to face (unfortunately) until we die. That being said, I knew if I wanted to continue my journey in AAT and make it a success, I could definitely use some pointers to see how to easier manage it!


The seminar was an hour, and was fantastic. Our speaker was eloquent, graceful and seemingly stress-free thanks to her simple breathing techniques and warm personality. Nonetheless, I figured even if i didnt remember ALL of her pointers, at least I would remember a few. Breathe from the diaphragm and be aware of your "hot button"; a thing(s) that gets under your skin, sets you off...makes you upset. Genius if you ask me!

After leaving the library, I received an email from *Jose. He is a married father of one, a teenage boy who has just entered adolescence. He wrote me an extremely touching email reflecting on the difficulty and challenges him and his wife faced with their son as he "grew up", and how his sons physician prescribed the best medicine of all. He didnt reach for a prescription pad and scribble out the first remedy that came to mind. Instead, he was mindful. He told this loving family to try a pet if they could - any pet. A fish, a hamster, something to give their son purpose.

It didnt work.

They tried a hamster as suggested, but their son wasn't intrigued. Video games and basketball after school was much more important to this young boy then hanging out with a rodent, and perhaps, we can all identify in some way. His parents then tried a rabbit and the result was not much different. Needless to say, Jose and his wife were becoming worried about their sons health, his increasing anger and what the outcome could and possible would be if they didnt get help. After a year of trying other more conventional therapies, Jose and his family along with his sons physician decided on a dog. They had done research and his son seemed excited about the new addition to their family, and promised to walk their new friend twice daily - even right after school. This time, it was different. This time, Jose's son dove in head first and didn't look back. It has been a year and the child's grades have improved, as well as his frustration and bursts of anger and resentment. Although he is not ready to fully embrace counselling, his son is opening up to possibilities, which in itself is amazing.

Where lies the trouble? The family has medical support. They have a dog which provides love, support and unconditional respect. They now laugh together, and have dinner together. The condo board however, doesn't want this to continue. Presently, I have been asked to help Jose and his family keep their pet. Even though they have medical records, they have letters from doctors, they have progress reports, their canine companion is up to date on shots, trained and hardly aggressive. Elderly in the building are allowed to keep cats and/or small dogs if the pets are elderly themselves, but what about the rest of us? The individuals with mobility concerns, with macular degeneration, heart disease, with cognitive disorders or debilitating anxiety. All of these concerns can have their symptoms relieved and in some cases improved with the help of a therapy animal and a realistic, attainable goal. This is why understanding alternative therapies is such an important message and this is why I hope to help Jose and his wife and son keep their four legged friend for life.

Photo from:
http://www.scenicreflections.com/media/494726/DOG_AND_HIS_BOY_Wallpaper/

Cujo and Herman - "Hey Blanday!"

Hey Blondie.

I'm never quite sure if *Herman is talking to me or Cujo when we see him at the Retirement home I visit on Monday Mornings. He greets us both with a big hug and smile but after that, his business with me is pretty much over as he fully turns his attention to The Coo-bean (at times, you'll read some nicknames given to my furry employees by myself or who we visit - not to be alarmed!). Cujo has his moments with other dogs. Sometimes he is enamored, some indifferent and some, believe it or not with a name like Cujo, he dislikes some dogs. People he enjoys greatly though! He can be wary on a busy street but when he is in work mode, all of that seems to change. Tail wagging, tongue hanging out, and say the word "Treaty!" and all bets are off - get ready for a chihuahua jumping at your bedside or begging for a morsel. Begging is one of the favourite tricks at this particular home, and is probably why this particular chi is getting a particular bit of a belly! The payoff is worth it and I find it completely endearing when one of the retirees saves a bit of toast from Monday morning breakfast because they know we're coming. Buttered of course. after visiting with the people on Herman's floor, we retire to Herman's apartment where he now keeps milkbones in a cookie jar on the counter. Herman has never owned a dog of his own, however has always loved them and has fallen in love with mine.

I can't blame him.

We visit Herman to help with his fine motor skills; Arthritis has left him with hands that are frail, hands that used to cook and own a diner in Bloor West village, hands that used to hold his wife when  they danced. Now, he is barely able to hold a utensil to eat, to flip the pages of the TV guide to see whats on the tube. Cujo and I visit and after fun and games, Herman brushes little C, holding the rubber handle with care and being careful not to push too hard. Although his hand is shaky, Cujo doesn't seem to mind as he licks the air and looks back at Herman with glassy eyes of adoration to please, please continue brushing! Herman tells me doing this activity along with visiting Cujo allows him to take a lot of the focus off of his ailment and focuses on the task at hand - taking care of a pet. Herman also helps me by unscrewing Cujo's water carrier as well as holding his leash while we are in the facility; although these tasks are difficult for Herman, his family tells me he relays stories to them about Cujo and doesn't seem to focus on his disease as much anymore since our visits began.

When we leave, Cujo always makes sure to kiss Herman's face excitedly, as if to say "I'll be back! I'll be back!" and we are walked to the front door of the facility. Looking back and waving to everyone looking at us from their windows is by far one of the greatest feelings I've ever had in my life. I'm so glad I finally get to share it. :)

Sheila and Gizmo - Pet loss relief

Last week, I went to go visit a client who requested AAT serviced for her mother, an 80-something senior with a lovely disposition, who makes me smile instantly when I see her. Before visiting with any animals, I met with *Sheila and her daughter at the Retirement Facility where Sheila lives.

Entering her apartment and looking around, I could tell she was and had been a lover of the four legged kind for a long time. A large photo above the couch revealed a younger Sheila, hugging a rusty spaniel, smiling away. Her tea towels had kittens on them. She kept a box of her last cats memorabilia as he had died a few months ago and as she said (and I don't blame her) "Couldn't bring myself to get rid of them just yet". The three of us, myself, Sheila and her daughter, decided a great goal was to help heal the grief she was feeling due to the loss of her cat Finnius through the use of counselling and a visiting animal. Sheila acknowledged that although she missed the companionship of a furry friend, she knew she presently could not handle the responsibility of caring for a pet. This, in addition to her recent loss, was contributing to Sheilas depression, something both herself and her daughter were increasingly aware of.

We decided to begin sessions once a week. These sessions began innocently but became very animated at a fast pace. When the topic of animals, great or small arose, Sheila was dynamic, vibrant and seemingly happy. She stated to me after a few sessions that AAT gave her a different outlook in life. That just because change occurs as it did for her; leaving her family behind and living in a retirement community, the death of Finnius and the loss of that companionship, it doesn't mean a friendship cant blossom, support isn't available or a friend cant be found. Gizmo became that friend.

Although Gizmo and I visit Sheila only once a week at this time, I (we?) have received phone calls here and there, Sheila wondering if i gave Gizmo the apple she gave us to take home or if she got outside today. Hearing her concern and love for my pet made me realize Gizmo ISN'T just mine anymore. She is filling parts of people's lives in such a way that most wouldn't think she could comprehend, but I think she can. Seeing Sheilas face when we enter is an amazing gift for me, and of course a relief for her family as well. Her progress in regards to handling her depression is moving forward and although it will be a long road, she states she is happy to share it with Gizmo and I. Hearing Gizmo popcorn and purr when shes being brushed by Sheila makes me cant help but think Gizmo is happy to share in it with her as well.

Smoky - The first documented Therapy dog

Go to this link to read about Smoky, the worlds first documented Therapy Dog for some inspiration and a little tug on your heartstrings.

Welcome!

I've decided to start a blog. A wonderful blog which will encompass my beginnings into the world of Animal Assisted Therapy, what Ive learned and who Ive met (posted with their permission and of course, some names/circumstances will be changed to protect privacy), and the challenges I face. This week has been a little off for me as I've been sick and not able to go and see all of my clients, which of course, I feel horrible and guilty about, yet I know I have to do what I have to do, so I decided blogging about it while I could not actually go might make me feel a bit better. :)

I began the idea to start my own company  after learning to live with my own health concerns (more on that later) and seeing that my previously conventional 8-4/9-5 business casual lifestyle was about to change. Dramatically. I was used to seeing my friends on certain days, dinners for one on others but after my illness came about, I knew everything would be different. Frankly, I didn't even really know who would even be around to see me through it, but I knew it would be different. As the days turned into weeks and weeks into months, I realized there were always a few faces i could depend on in my life. They may not speak English (that I know of), they may not be able to make me a cup of tea (again, not that i know of and if they can - ill be pretty upset I didn't know about this magical talent sooner!), but they do know how to love.

Boy, do they know how to love.

They, being my furry friends, my fur babies as some of us who are cat nuts or dog lovers may call them. Brinx, a Jack Russell/Poodle mix appropriately and affectionately nicknamed the "Roadster" due to her back legs being just a touch longer then her front. She also has "lamps"; an ex-boyfriend made me realize this one evening in my backyard when she insisted to sit on his lap while he sat in a lawn chair circa 1970. "Just tell her to go down." I said while looking at the night sky. He didnt. After looking over I realised why and I realised because of his smile. All he said was "Lamps." and brushed her scruffy bangs from her giant eyes and eyelashes. She didnt care that there were a million mosquitoes or that we were sitting in less than comfortable lawn chairs, she cared that she was a part of us, a part of our circle. Brinx entered my life before I entirely knew what to do with it and Im thankful she is part of my inspiration.

The other half of it comes in a 10 pound package with ears resembling Mickey Mouse and a constant need to move. Cujo is a Chihuahua, or so say his "papers" anyway. His name always gets a laugh from individuals who make the connection between his moniker and the rottweiler from the Steven King Movie and Novel; at times he has a bit of "little man" syndrome and has to be a tough guy, but never when hes one on one with someone. He has the innate ability to know when hes needed and to know what to do. If you want hyper, Cujo will give you hyper. If someone needs a kiss or to curl up in bed, he'll do that too. Automatically, which is why I knew he was a natural, and why I'll never know why he was put on Craigslist or why he was crated for 12 hours a day at almost 2 years of age. My other half of the puzzle.

Or shall I say 2/3 of the puzzle. Gizmo isnt a canine, however she gets a long with them just fine. A guinea pig who came to me when I was at work at a summer job while i was in college, her owner stating urgently on her lunch hour she needed her out. Now. "Now?". Now! And just like that, that evening I took a taxi to my home and struggled with the massive cage and accessories. 4 years later she has also become a part of my team, a coworker and is a wonderful addition to round out the gang.

After seeing what I had right in front of me, after working with various clients living with Dementia, Alzheimer's, Schizophrenia, ABI, Bi Polar, Stroke,  and after realizing I had to do more, Pawsitive Therapy was born. I didn't care about dollar signs or giant marketing schemes. I didn't care about perfecting a sales pitch or a portfolio. Heck, I didn't even think about charging fees. I realized there was a need, an urgent need for what I can do with my pets and what I wanted to do (not to mention what THEY wanted to do with people!) and so I walked to the library, registered the name and made my website. She was born.


I will be documenting my ups and downs of trying to start a not for profit in this sector as well as shared stories of inspiration and hope for those who are facing challenges in their own lives and may derive something from these tails...er...tales.

 :)



Until next time,

Laura