pets as therapy

ever heard of canine therapy? how about equine assisted therapy? both are used in and out of treatment centers today.  pet therapy is also used in nursing homes, children's hospitals (like a friend of mine does with her puppy). an article in the local 06 or '07 paper said dr. joe bradley's elder psych unit at st. vincents uses pet therapy.....then howz about folks since time immemorial who've just had pets who were so much "therapy" before the word therapy came along? (my mama tells the story of being very close to the family milk cow 

and her brother one of the chickens.)

when raising our kids, no way would we get 'em a dog. too much work and we knew we'd be the ones doing it. we did have 2 wonderful cats but they're such low maintenance, detached types - great for parents but not very therapeutic for kids. an arguable point, but this was our experience.

last year, during a very difficult time, our adult son got a lap puppy. "therapeutic" friends for life! he even took him on that 9500 mile trip. but, really now, who would want to be in a vehicle for that long with a dog, especially a very huge, shedding, stinking, slobbering one? and when possible, he was let off the leash to run free!  one time he found four deer feet. my son threw them as far as he could over some fence in some forest.....back they came in chance's mouth. yum!

in june '08, a beautiful white doggie appeared looking lost. all our (adult) daughter had to say was "here puppy!" they were in love, end of story. she put up signs, owners claimed her, they were placing for adoption, did dau. want her???  she was also going thru a difficult time and God had brought her a therapy dog right to her front door! 3 years old, no puppy stage, no trainin'. perfect. and o so sweet a personality. named her selah like in the psalms, a musical amen. no deer feet for her but so far she's killed a bird, several chipmunks and a squirrel. chance does the honors of eating the kill. it's all in the hunt for her.

and now i've got my therapy pet.  you might say i'm going thru a bit of a hard time and could use some extra TLC.  kitty viva is the snuggliest little buddy i could ever have. she naps with me and even....don't be grossed out.....sleeps with me!  i tell her all my problems, just like i told boppy, my childhood doggie, and she's so supportive!

The Lord God knew what He was doing (as always) when He determined dogs (i mean pets) to be man's best (therapy) friends. praise Him from whom all blessings flow. praise Him all creatures here below. praise Him all dogs and cats and other pets. praise Father Son and Holy Ghost, Amen.

ps:   i wrote the above blog in an amorous state. but now, ok, forget it. the deal's off. sat. nite at 12:45 am, my dau. bursts thru the bedroom door "help, both dogs escaped the fence and i need help getting them back in and securing the fence!" then kitty was wide awake after such excitement, stayed up most the nite licking and nibbling (biting), making a fuss. all pet owners know therez a down side to animals so this is no surprise! ;)