K-9 Healers - Pet Therapy

Pet therapy is a service that is provided by people and their certified animals. Studies have shown that a patient's blood pressure is lowered and the immune system is strengthened when interacting with companion animal. Residents in long term care facilities become bored and lonely. Animal visits lift the spirits and in some cases eliminate or reduce the need for psychotropic drugs.

Therapy animals are also useful in physical therapy. Grooming, petting or throwing a ball can increase range of motion and provide low impact exercise for the residents.

Animals are certified throughTherapy Dog International Certifying your animal is very important because it insures the pet owner in case of an incident. It is important for the facility to know that an animal is tested and determined to be safe to visit residents.

K-9 HEALERS INTERGENERATIONAL PET THERAPY PROJECT

Since 1995 the K-9 Healers Intergenerational Pet Therapy Project or "K-9 Kids" has been a project that brings together youth, residents of the Homestead Long Term Care Facility, and Certified Pet Therapy dogs. pet therapy class Gail Furst founded this program in 1995 with her Certified Pet Therapy Boxer, "Rosie", and one child visiting the Homestead room to room. The program gives youth the opportunity to develop safe, caring relationships with the senior citizens while at the same time taking pride in their work as dog handlers and helpers. The youth come to the after-school program every Wednesday during the school year. They arrive at the Homestead, join the three facilitators and gather in a common room to talk about their day. Once everyone has had a chance to relax they go and join the residents in their activity room to participate in an intergenerational craft project. During the program the youth share who gets to take care of the dogs, as well as helping some of the residents cut paper, glue, and finish their art project. Throughout the program the youth are showered with praise by the facilitators as well as the residents.

Dog training The K-9 Kids goals include enhancing each participant's use of personal power through learning how to control a dog in a nursing home; providing human and canine companionship to nursing home Residents; promoting each participant's ability to use self-control; increasing each participant's self esteem, empathy, patience, and positive sense of self-worth; teaching the participant's how to praise and providing them with opportunities to receive praise from facilitators, residents, and each other. The program also teaches the children reverence for life.

K-9 Kids is a program funded by Yates County Community Services, which distributes funds to the Rushville Health Center, where Ms. Furst was the Outreach Department Director for over 15 years.

To date the K-9 Kids has serviced over 1000 youth living in Yates County.

The K-9 Kids Project has been nationally recognized twice. The first was when it was listed by the Humane Society of the United States directory of Animal-Related Programs for Violence Prevention and Intervention (www.hsus.org). The second recognition was by America's Promise in 2000. America's Promise is a campaign founded by General Colin Powell.(www.americaspromise.org). K-9 Kids was highlighted as a program that brings youth into Finger Lakes Health, with which the Homestead is affiliated.

For more information about K-9 Healers, Pet Therapy, Dog Obedience, Therapy Dog International, setting up Guidelines for having animals visit your facility or setting up programs bringing youth into a facility with certified animals, please feel free to contact Gail by email or by calling her. (607)522-7818

K-9 Healers
Dog Obedience and Pet Therapy Training

What is Pet Therapy?

K-9 Healers Dog Obedience and Pet Therapy Training

What is Pet Therapy?

K-9 Healers
Dog Obedience and Pet Therapy Training