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TRUE
STORIES OF ANIMALS HELPING PEOPLE HEAL
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| 1ST QUARTER - WINTER |
BY:
DR. SHANNON DOMINGUEZ, DCH
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JAN~FEB~MAR
2007
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a
new perspective
by Alexis Pleiss |
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Alexis
Pleiss
holding Stevie Wonder |
When we got to the facility one guy stood out among the rest, because I thought he looked like a dinosaur. His name is Scott (name changed for privacy). Scott has cerebral palsy. He is confined to a wheel chair and unable to talk. Since Scott can’t talk, he uses a talk board. He has a laser strapped on his head that he uses to point to the letters he wants to spell a word. When he is done with the word the talk board will say it aloud for him.
Shannon, my boss, walked up to him and said “I have someone new with me, her name is Alexis.” His face lit up once he saw me, I smiled uncomfortably. He reached out his hand to touch me, I immediately stepped back. I didn’t know if he was grabbing me out of rage or just wanting to shake my hand. As far as I was concerned I wanted to stay as far away from him as I could.
Shannon began talking about a book she was reading. It was about how some disabled people can communicate with animals though pictures in their mind. Scott became so excited. The words came out on his talk board as “I can do that!” I rolled my eyes not believing him. It wasn’t until I witnessed it myself, that I believed. Scott could literally communicate with animals. He was telling us all about the animal we put in front of him. Things he would never have known, like where they lived before or who they live with now.
He then said he could read people. I got chicken skin. Shannon said “Who can you read in this room?” His eyes went straight to mine. We stared into each others eyes for what seemed forever, and then he smiled. Yet this time it was as though he understood me, he knew who I was by just looking into my eyes.
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Ikuma
photo credit: Jonathan Lentz |
Scott has totally changed my perspective on life. He has made me re-evaluate what truly is important to me, and how the little things in life make the biggest difference. Henry David Thoreau once said “To front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”
| Note from the editor: Alexis Pleiss is a Senior at Seabury Hall, Maui, Hawaii and wrote this as a speech delivered in front of her school's assembly. She has been an intern for the pet therapy program for the past two years and will be attending college in the fall. She enjoys animals, horses, volunteering and is a blue ribbon competitor in dressage. |
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MEET
ALVIN KEOHOHINA
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Alvin
and Buttercup
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Alvin Keohohina, age 22, is a resident at Hale Makua Kahului (HMK) and trains the baby therapy bunnies. The misfortune of a car accident several months ago left him a quadriplegic (with some use of his upper extremities). While his life has changed drastically, his positive attitude is contagious! He is my first stop at HMK and a bright light in my day. Even when he has guests visiting, he takes the time to work with our new bunnies in training. He has a deep and meaningful connection to the animals. It is truly amazing, something you have to see for yourself. He connects to them not only by handling them, but through subconscious processes that naturally settle them down and invoke trust. He has already trained bunnies, Buttercup, Baby and Ikuma. His latest projects are Shimmer, Kalo, Pearl and Alvin (yes, his namesake!... and they're both cute!). When asked what he liked best about the bunnies, he said, "They make you feel good." We agree!! Keep up the good work, Alvin. We appreciate the time spent volunteering with the Haku Baldwin Center's pet therapy shannimals.
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SHAMROCK
& THE PRETENDER
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Bella
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I remember him from 4 years ago when I was volunteering. Back then, a fighting Irish... in every way, only wheelchair bound. He'd yell for the nurses to wheel him out for sun. He loved the sun... heck, it's Hawaii... most people are here for warm weather and sun (or so I'm told).
Now, I find Patrick completely bedridden, hands seized into clenched fists (unable to open them), a vacant stare in his eyes. My mind wonders, stroke? perhaps... I didn't ask the nurse. I didn't think he would respond to me, and with a bunny in my arms, I reintroduced myself. My eyes drawn to his crystal clear blues and that funky, green, 3 leaf shamrock tattooed on his forearm.
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Pet
Therapy is fun!
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Initially, no response. Then , very slowly, his eyes looked towards me showing attentive response (which is not uncommon), but it doesn't mean he had recognition. For all I knew, he wasn't capable of speech either. Then to my joy, he spoke and said my name aloud! (I thought silently... that's so awesome.) Mind you, aloud is nearly a whisper, but audible. He never had time for the animals 4 years ago... he just wanted the sun. Now, all he wanted was me and the bunny (and neither of us are from Playboy and I'm sure he's prefer the latter). By the way, the bunny's name... David Bowie. Trust me it fits.... and yes, I named him.
He said, "Put him where I can feel his soft fur." We spent as much time together as was possible. I would have loved to have spent the whole hour with him as he was actually beginning to have some movement in his clenched fingers as he tried to unclench them to pet Bowie. (I wish the physical therapists could see what was happening). With only me, and no staff to help, I had to keep a watchful eye out on the 3 bunnies, 2 guineas and Bella placed about the common area of the units. We gave Patrick our "Aloha" and left shortly thereafter.
I passed
Mr. Rios, still having the mysterious conversation with Bella. He then
looked upon me and said,"Whew am I tired... this animal loving is
hard work!" Then he went back to it.... more love for Bella. When
the hour was up and I collected all of the therapy animals, Mr. Rios happily
turned Bella over to me, got up and with a quick pace for his age and
health, bee-lined down the hall... spitting over the railings every few
feet. While I was a bit dismayed by his actions, I thought well... he
does get some distance. I truly love the elderly. When you're really old,
who the heck cares what you do... you get away with it! Trust me... they
know it and that smug look he had on his face said it all.
He immediately went to Mr. Ono's room (name changed) and laid on Ono's
bed. Wait a minute!! He's not Mr. Rios.... he's Ono! For the love of....
that man has refused all animals (chickens, rabbits, cat, dog, guinea
pigs for two years!!!). And then as if the light when on inside my head,
I finally understood. I guess it must be good to pretend your someone
else.... because that someone else likes animals. Clever man!!!
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VOLUNTEER
SPOTLIGHT
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Marie
and Sweetpea |
It is my
pleasure to introduce you to Marie Glodt, who's natural charm, kind heart
and special way with animals and people delight us all. Marie contacted
me in August of 2006 in response to a "volunteers needed" flyer
I had posted at our local feed store, Wai Ulu Farms. I instantly had a
good feeling about her when we spoke on the phone. Good volunteers are
hard to come by, and I knew I had found gold with Marie before even meeting
her. She has lived on Maui for 25 years and upon our first drive to her
first facility visit as a volunteer, we learned a bit about each other
that pleasantly surprised us both. We both grew up in Anaheim, California,
lived blocks apart and attended the same junior and senior high schools.
And yet, we had never met! They call this syncronicity and it took the
two of us to move to Maui and a help wanted flyer for us to meet! She
lovingly helps with all of the large group pet therapy visits (up to 70
patients!).
Beside volunteering her time with the pet therapy program (and spoiling
Bella and our bunnies with her special TLC), she is a member of the Orchid
Society, has an amazing garden, enjoys cooking, ride horses and regularly
attends the Maui Polo matches. Marie is a travel agent specializing in
honeymoon and luxury spa travel packages to Hawaii, Tahiti and New Zealand.
She is passionate about her work and knows the ins and outs for the best
deals and prices to meet your needs for that perfect luxury vacation or
honeymoon package. Her customers love her and she is well respected and
recognized with top honors by the service industry. If you or someone
you know wants to travel to Hawaii, Tahiti or New Zealand, check out her
website: www.traveltomaui.net.
She will help you plan your dream honeymoon or luxury spa vacation in
paradise.
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Left
to Right: Alvin, Shimmer, Pearl and Kalo
pictured at 2 weeks (born January 27th) Photo credit: Jonathan Lentz |
FOR MORE
INFORMATION ON PET THERAPY
VISIT: www.myspace.com/pet_therapy
or email: info@behypnotized.com
WHAT IS
ANIMAL-ASSISTED THERAPY?
Animal-Assisted Therapy is also known as Pet Therapy. It is the utilization
of specially trained animals as a form of therapy in the clinical environment
(i.e.. hospitals, convalescent centers, rehabilitation facilities, Alzheimer
and adult day care). It is not a practice of performing therapy on pets
or animals, as is often thought by those not familiar with this type of
modality.
The formal
definition of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is: "AAT is a goal-directed
intervention in which an animal that meets specific criteria is an integral
part of the treatment process. AAT is directed and/or delivered by a health/human
service professional with specialized expertise, and within the scope
of practice of his/her profession.
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Physical |
Educational Increase vocabulary. Aid in long- or short-term memory. Improve knowledge of concepts such as size, color, etc. Motivational Improve willingness to be involved in a group activity. Improve interactions with others. Improve interactions with staff. Increase exercise. |
HAKU BALDWIN
CENTER
The Haku Baldwin Center (formerly Maui Animal Aloha Center) is a 501 (c)(3)
nonprofit corporation offering Animal-Assisted Therapy to children and
adults and Therapeutic Horseback riding for disabled children. The first
handicapped therapeutic riding sessions were conducted on the grounds
of The Maui Horse Center in Makawao by Harriet (Haku) Baldwin in 1973.
It became a non-profit in 1991 to provide a permanent place for the therapeutic
horseback riding program. In recent years, the therapeutic program expanded
to include Animal Education in the public schools and Animal-Assisted
(Pet) Therapy in the hospitals, pediatric units, rehabilitation/convalescent
facilities and Alzheimer daycare centers.
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DONATE
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The Haku Baldwin Center's Therapeutic Horseback Riding and Pet Therapy programs are a free service to the community. While we can provide the love, animals and horses for free, their care and feed are not. The Pet Therapy program visits up to 800 patients a month while the Therapeutic Horseback Riding program has dozens of children with disabilities riders. Please donate, any amount. Make a difference in the lives of the people we touch. Your gift will touch their lives in a powerful and meaningful way. Mahalo!
YOUR DONATIONS HELP!
(and are tax-deductible)
Send your check payable to: Haku Baldwin Center
and send it to:
Accounting Services of Maui
Attn: Haku
Baldwin Center
PO Box 1920
Makawao, Maui, HI 96768
or
donate on-line with your credit card or through Paypal
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Shannimal's
Friendly Tails
is created, owned and maintained by
Dr. Shannon Dominguez, DCH
Distribution
with courtesy to:
Haku Baldwin Center
a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
444 Makawao Ave.
Makawao, Maui, HI 96768
©
Shannimal's Friendly Tails
Dr. Shannon Dominguez, DCH
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
2007