A pet a day keeps the doctor away

by Lisa Cardy

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DOGS really are mans' best friend, along with cats and reptiles. Staff in hospitals, day-care centres and special schools are harnessing the therapeutic power of animals for treating patients.

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Do you have a pet that could be a furry therapist If your animal is calm and even tempered then why not volunteer it for the scheme by visiting the website at www.petsastherapy.com. All breeds, except American pit bulls, are considered. They have to be vaccinated and are covered by third party insurance.

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Sandra Stone, a former nurse and animal behaviourist, set up a similar organisation Children in Hospital and Animal Therapy Association (Chata). The paediatric department at London's Guy's Hospital participates in�her scheme. Very sick and long-term patients are regularly cheered up by a number of cuddly visitors. For further information call 01626 772570.

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And it's not just fluffy animals that have a beneficial effect, snakes and lizards are being used to help children with disabilities. Expert Terry Payne takes the reptiles around special needs classrooms in Swansea. Teacher Amy Dobbins claims that the physical contact with such tactile creatures is having a remarkable affect on her autistic pupils.

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The therapeutic benefits of animals could actually save the NHS �1billion a year, claims the Society of Companion Animal Studies (SCAS).�It points to studies that suggest that the health service in Australia saves �900 million a year, due to pet ownership. Australian pet owners make fewer visits to their doctor each year, suffer fewer sleeping difficulties and are less likely to be taking medicine for a heart condition.

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But one person's therapy can be another person's nightmare. A US airline allowed a pig to fly first class with its owners who insisted that it was a 'therapeutic companion pet'. The animal caused havoc during the flight and won't be taking to the skies again the airline confirmed.