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Dr Dogs work magic on patients

By Fu Rong | 2011-5-15 | NEWSPAPER EDITION

AN examiner puffed on the dog's face and ear, then dragged her hair and tail. The dog gave no defense reaction. These basic tests are used by Animals Asia Foundation (AAF) when they recruit canines to join Doctor Dog, an animal assisted therapy program that was launched on the Chinese mainland in 2004. From March to April, AAF held its annual Doctor Dog recruitment examination in Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Chengdu. Twenty-four dogs were eventually chosen to join the Doctor Dog family, which now has more than 300 canines. Among the 24 new doctors, the eldest is a ten-year-old (70 years old in human year) West Highland White Terrier. Coffee, a four-year-old Yorkshire Terrier, was among the 24 chosen dogs. As the examiner tightly cuddled the furry creature for five minutes, Coffee remained calm throughout. A fancy treat was given and then taken away to gauge Coffee's reaction. Loud noises were made around her, but Coffee passed every test with a placid demeanor. Coffee was abandoned by her original owner after being diagnose with CPV, a potentially fatal disease to dogs. But her current owner took her home in 2007 and created a cozy home for her. Now, Coffee is cute, gentle, smart and friendly. These qualities make her ideal as a Dr Dog. The program accepts all breeds, including mixed breeds, provided they are healthy and have a happy, placid nature. Professional training is not necessary. How it started According to AAF websites, in the1990s, Western scientists had already started medical research on companion animals in adjunctive therapy on certain human diseases. Many physical diseases are caused by mental stress, but researchers found that spending time with companion animals created a tremendous sense of well-being while also fostering a positive outlook and increasing a person's self-confidence. The studies concluded that spending time with a companion animal, such as a dog, improved both the physical and mental well-being of people. A 1990 study conducted by Freidman, Katcher, Lynch, & Thomas on the beneficial effects of pet ownership to heart attack patients proved pet owners had a lower mortality rate than non-pet owners. In 2001, Professor Allen of the State University of New York conducted a study on people with hypertension. Patients exposed to companion animals were found to have lower blood pressure than the control group who took medication alone. Measurement of heart rates also showed a significant difference, with 91 beats per minute for those without pet contact compared to 81 for pet owners. Other studies also found companion animals help reduce people's stress and cholesterol levels, decrease the risk of heart disease and boost the immune system. In 1991, when Jill Robinson, founder and CEO of AAF, was reading similar reports, accompanied by her dog, a golden retriever named Max, she came up with the Doctor Dog concept. Days later, after several rejections, Robinson got the chance to take a dog to the garden at the Duchess of Kent Children's Hospital in the United Kingdom. "Time and time again, my calls were rejected by people who couldn't believe I was seriously suggesting bringing a 'dirty, smelly, unhygienic mutt' into a sterile hospital environment," Robinson said. However, that day, under the supervision of doctors, nurses and media, Max was allowed to meet disabled children. When a paralyzed boy laying on the bed was wheeled in front of Max, the dog stood up and put his forelegs on the side of the sickbed. The boy smiled. It became the first Doctor Dog case. And the smiles kept on coming. Now, AAF has more than 300 dogs for animal therapy in Asian countries including China, Japan, the Philippines and India, with more than 100 on the Chinese mainland. They make regular visits to hospitals, disabled centers, homes for the young and elderly, orphanages and schools, spreading warmth and unconditional love to people in need.

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