(MY) Dr. Dog

[Guest guest]

Thursday June 7, 2007-The Star

Essential training

 

Dogs used in animal-assisted therapy must undergo proper training.

 

WHEEL POWER by ANTHONY THANASAYAN

 

A REPORT in last Saturday's newspaper about animal-assisted therapy

(AAT) failed to make my heart leap with joy.

 

It described an initiative by a company or some individuals to use

dogs to visit hospitals, old folks' homes and even prisons, to offer

AAT.

 

According to the report, which is supposed to involve a well-known

overseas animal rights activist, they plan on using mongrels or mixed

breed dogs as opposed to pedigree dogs, for such work.

 

These include stray dogs which, according to them, have to pass a

simple test to gauge their temperament before the dogs are sent out to

hospitals and centres for the disabled, elderly and children.

 

I serve as president of the country's first and only nationally

registered animal-assisted therapy society, called the Malaysian

Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (or

Petpositive). We are a non-profit NGO made up of key elements in an

AAT group.

 

We are run by disabled and elderly persons who receive AAT.

 

In our committee are medical specialists in neurology, paediatrics,

rehabilitation science and microsurgery. There are also a couple of

dental surgeons and a team of veterinarians. They are qualified to

offer expert advice and help.

 

Others in our organisation are senior social workers, a lawyer and

other experts who give us valuable advice from time to time.

 

I am also a service dog trainer with Bivai Special Dogs, a training

programme that trains and offers highly skilled canine companions to

the physically disabled.

 

These dogs help them in daily tasks, such as opening doors, picking up

objects, pushing wheelchairs, and more.

 

I have been working, living and interacting with service dogs, 24/7,

for over 10 years.

 

I have been living with disability for almost half a century now,

since I was born.

 

With such a background, I am able to understand disability better. I

hope that those considering AAT work with dogs, especially in

hospitals or where sick or disabled people are concerned, will keep

the following in mind:

 

There are no therapy dogs in Malaysia. A therapy dog, like a service

dog, is a highly skilled and trained canine that has undergone

training from the time it was a puppy to young adulthood. A service

dog cannot be a therapy dog, and vice versa, because the scope of work

is not the same. A service dog cannot be patted by strangers when they

are working.

 

A therapy dog is a perfectly disciplined dog which cannot lick anyone

or it will be disqualified, as licking can spread diseases and create

complications. It cannot jump on hospital beds or patients.

 

I cannot imagine stray dogs being picked up from the streets and

expected to assist the disabled, elderly or children, overnight. They

will require weeks and months of training before they even graduate!

 

There are exceptional cultural sensitivities in Malaysia towards dogs,

which must be respected and observed. We have to admit that some

people do fear or have an aversion to dogs. For such persons (and

those with allergies to animal dander), the worst thing one can do is

to use dog therapy. In Petpositive's case, we use other animals

besides dogs, for AAT.

 

Dogs tend to bark at wheelchairs and even growl fiercely because they

are not familiar with them. This is not only off-putting to the

disabled person but also to other patients. Some disabled people

experience muscle spasms, whereby parts of their bodies and limbs may

suddenly jerk uncontrollably – and this could spook the dogs.

 

Then there is the possibility of dogs snapping at people, no matter

how well trained they are. They are especially prone to do so if they

are in an unfamiliar situation. Imagine the consequences if such a

thing did happen.

 

This is exactly why I feel that AAT, which is a highly professional

and specialised service, should best be left to the people who know

exactly what they are doing.

 

Petpositive will have its official launch and fund-raising dinner on

July 29, at the Legend Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. The event includes a

performance by Ramli Ibrahim.

 

For reservations (you may also sponsor the disabled and elderly),

contact Anna Tandy (03-6157 5271) or Tony (012-220 3146). Or e-mail:

petpositive