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TRUE
STORIES OF ANIMALS HELPING PEOPLE HEAL
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| 3rd QUARTER - SUMMER |
BY:
DR. SHANNON DOMINGUEZ, DCH
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JUL~AUG~SEP
2007
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PETS
LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE
we knew that, did you? |
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Lower
blood pressure here!
Would you like a bunny or a chicken? |
This
year, volunteer Marie Glodt and I attended the Maui Community College
Health Fair to represent the animals important role in improving well-being
with people. We brought the crew of bunnies, guinea pigs, dog and chickens.
We set up our table in trade winds gusting up to 40mph, and our charming
little critters on the table just sat there happily like it was a picture
perfect day (while the others in pens happily went about their business).
We greeted many fair attendees explaining the work we do with the animals
at the facilities, handing out flyers, answering questions and putting
our best bunny (or chicken) forward in hopes to recruit new volunteers
to assist us in reaching out and touching more lives.
We didn't set out to prove that pets lower blood pressure (hypertension),
it just happened. We continued to receive people from the Cardiovascular
booth who were just curious about what we do. It started with a visitation
from a person who had left the cardio booth (which was a good distance
from us) exclaiming that she just got her blood pressure taken and it
was high. Rather matter of factly, Marie said something like, "Pet
the bunnies for a few minutes; petting animals lowers blood pressure."
The woman looked genuinely surprised by Marie's comment and upon seeing
her reaction, I began to talk about some of the many studies proving animals
lower blood pressure. "Well, I'll give it a try and we'll just see
if you are right." She replied.
Pick your animal! She stayed with us for a few minutes petting the very
bunny you see me holding in the picture (say Aloha to Joe Lewis -- famous
Maui bunny named after the famous boxer, you can't tell by the photo but
like the boxer Joe, he has a black eye). After she spent time petting
Joe, she thanked us and left. Nearly an hour later she returned and said
she just had to come back to let us know that she didn't really believe
what we told her and so she went back to the cardio booth after petting
Joe Lewis to see if it really did work. "Well, did it?" we asked.
She eagerly replied, "Yes!!!" It worked so well in fact that
her blood pressure returned to normal and she was so happy about it, she
told anyone who would listen about her little experiment. She also told
us that she now sees her pets in a whole new light and would be spending
even more time petting them, especially on stressful days.
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MARIE
and there's Joe Lewis! (right)
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It didn't
take long before the cardio booth was sending over their hypertension
guests for some Animal-Assisted Therapy. Each time a guest would arrive,
they would spend time with the animals and return to the cardio booth
to have it rechecked. EACH TIME THEIR BLOOD PRESSURE WAS LOWER! At some
point during the fair, the nurses at the cardio booth dropped by to tell
us how much fun they were having with all the guests and stories they
were hearing from people that participated in the informal blood pressure
experiment. They also commented about how they had heard of studies about
animals lowering blood pressure, but to see it with their own eyes was
impressive! New believers and advocates. How nice!
There is a connection called the human-animal bond, and while it can often
be a conscious one, there are subconscious processes at work with your
autonomic nervous system that affect you in good ways (provided you are
not allergic or fearful of animals). It is through these processes that
animals lower your blood pressure. Did you also know that studies have
shown, pet owners have lower cholesterol, have fewer doctors visits, improve
feelings of loneliness, increase well-being, aid child development and
more! Pets are good medicine, not just for your mind but for your body
too!
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visit
with the k9guru
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The k9guru, John Flanagan visited the Haku Baldwin Center after finding us on the MySpace Maui Pet Therapy/HBC webpage (www.myspace.com/pet_therapy). We shared our animal wisdom and random thoughts (whatever they may be) through the MySpace venue. That led him to visit our Center, as in all his years as a trainer and as a pet therapy certifier/evaluator, he had not come across a Center such as ours (I haven't come across anything like it yet either, come to think of it). John spent time observing and video taping and interviewing me about our Center.
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Shannon
Dominguez and John Flanagan (k9guru)
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The k9guru is hooked on Maui and the Haku Baldwin's Pet Therapy program, complimenting me by telling others that, "This is the real deal... this girl knows her sh*t, her animals are expertly imprinted, socialized and trained... Dr. Shannon, you have a way with people, animals and pet therapy. Wow!" This was after working with a patient with severe rheumatoid arthritis in her hands (fingers horribly contorted) and completely bed-ridden. Moving her fingers/hands is very difficult and painful, except when we visited with guinea pig, Oreo.
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OREO
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While at Hale Makua Kahului, it wasn't a normal quiet day at the facility. They were undergoing construction and there were tractors, machinery, air compressors making a lot of noise right outside where we were working. Not one bunny (or animal) flinched or panicked. In fact, as John put it... "They acted like it was no big *bleeping* deal. AMAZING! It's this kind of extreme training that gets me excited!" We're thrilled that you are impressed. Coming from an expert in both the pet therapy and animal training fields, it's reassurance that we're doing it right.The k9guru has left his mark with us, sharing his presence, expertise, kindness and generosity, gifting us with a sizeable donation to our program. BIG MAHALO!! Visit him at www.k9guru.com
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BELLA
BREAKS DOWN THE DOOR
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Bella
Certified Therapy Dog Breed: Cavalier King Charles/Mix |
Bella always brings smiles with her cute puppy face (by the way she is 6 years old), wagging tail, therapy vest and little slippers on her front paws. A lot of people ask why she wears the booties. Little Bella is not big enough to be pet when sitting on the ground, nor is she light enough to sit on laps (weighing in at 20 pounds). In order for people to pet her, she must stand on her hind legs and put her paws on the wheelchair or (with permission) on the legs of a patient . The booties protect patients from accidental scratching, as the skin of older patients weakens with age and protection is of the utmost importance.
One day
at Hale Makua Kahului, we were making our usual rounds on the Ilima Unit.
I brought approximately 20 therapy animals with us (rabbits, guinea pigs
and Bella). In an hour's time, we had provided Animal-Assisted Therapy
for approximately 36 patients (diligently charting the visitations). As
we were packing up and returning the furry ones to their kennels, I could
hear down the hall, "I don't want to leave, I'm not coming out."
This, in turn, was followed by pleading. "Please Mom, we all miss
you, everyone is waiting for you, we love you, we are going take care
of you."
Shortly afterward, the same woman I heard pleading with her mother approaches
me in tears, saying, "I don't know what to do. She won't come out
of her room and we've arranged 24 hour care for her in our home with private
nurses." She continues, "We want her to be with her family,
her grandchildren and her pets. And we've been trying to get her out of
her room for 2 hours now and we're not getting anywhere."
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Ready
for duty
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She just
said the magic word. Pets! I brought Bella to her room as the patient
was shouting at us to leave. This woman was adamant about staying right
where she was. In my experience, most patients look forward to going home.
This was the first time I had run across a refusal to leave the facility.
Undaunted by the anger and frustration being slung at me, I proceeded.
"But Bella has come to visit you, wouldn't you like to spend some
time with her? Look, her tail is happily wagging... she senses that you
love animals and could use a furry friend right now. Is that true?"
I asked.
"Oh come here you cute adorable little thing."The patient responded,
"I do need a friend."
With Bella, standing on her hind legs against the woman's wheelchair,
the two immediately connected as she began stroking Bella's face and head.
In that moment, the connection of the human-animal bond was reactivated
from dormancy. We could all feel the warmth and tenderness of the moment.
Memories of her own pets flooded back to her and reminded her how much
she missed her furry friends at home. I asked her, "Would you like
to go home now to see your animals?"
With a tear in her eye and somewhat reluctant, she nodded her head yes.
I said, "Bella would love to go outside and get some fresh air. Would
you like to walk her out to the car that is waiting for you to take you
home to your pets, family and friends. They are all so very much looking
forward to seeing you." With that, her daughter said, "Come
on Mom, everyone at home is so excited to see you; Bella will lead the
way." And she did.
Little Bella broke down the door of someone who had intended to lock themselves
inside of a care facility, so that she could be reunited with her loved
ones (the furry and not so furry ones). Bella took her all the way to
the car and received a kiss good-bye from the patient. We just love happy
endings.
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BLESSING
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Kahuna
Kumu Keli'i Tau'a
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It's official.
We moved the Pet Therapy and Animal Education Program to the Haku Baldwin
Center at 444 Makawao Ave in Makawao! Our animals were previously housed
at the estate of the late Harriet "Haku"Baldwin and we sincerely
thank Katie (Baldwin) Achaval, her husband Emiliano and grandson, Nicholas
for all of their hospitality throughout the transition period.
Additionally,
big mahalo to our Board of Directors and especially President, Peter Baldwin
for making all of this possible. Special thanks to Robin Jensen, Barn
Manager and the staff of the Haku Baldwin Center for opening their hearts
and welcoming all of us. You girls rock!
The official
Hawaiian blessing was performed by Kahuna Kumu Keli'i Tau'a. Due to timing
commitments, his schedule of having to leave the island to go to Japan
to bless the arrival of the Hawaiian sailing canoe, "The Hokulea"
(which by the way, he blessed on its' maiden voyage 31 years ago in 1976)
and the timing of the Hawaiian calendar for the most auspicious day for
the blessing, there was no time to plan a party. Thank you to those who
were able to attend the blessing under such short notice.
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 humane Animal Education classes, 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, Pet Therapy and Humane Animal Education programs are a free service to the community. While we can provide the love, animals and horses for free, we need your help to support the programs. 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