Marda.Anderson@f150.n321.z1.fidonet.org (Marda Anderson) (07/04/90)
Index Number: 9028
I liked your dog story. I think people are finally beginning to
recognize how important animals can be to us. Whenever I go to a nursing
home to share my music and visit with the residents, my dog is an instant
hit with most of them. When I was in the hospital I brought my dog
because I told them it was against the law to refuse admission to me
because I had a guide dog. The dog turned out to gbe therapeutic to
several of the patients. She is so gentle and loving and there were
people there who wouldn't have anything to do with human beings but who
responded to May. We had an enclosed courtyard on our unit where we
could sit outside. I'd let May loose there and she'd have a great time
running around and playing ball with people. She demolished the units
two frisbies, but she gave a lot of people lots of hours of pleasure.
There is a growing interest now in pet therapy. I know of several
nursing homes that have resident dogs. Sometimes there are problems,
like patients feeding the dogs too much and the dogs getting fat. But by
and large, it seems to be working.
marda
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