Asia Groups Applaud the Benefits of Animal Therapy

[Guest guest]

PRESS RELEASE - 10TH AUGUST 2001

 

Asia Groups Applaud the Benefits of Animal Therapy

as " Dr. Dog " expands and launches in India

 

" To make you feel better, our doctors may ask you to rub their

tummies! "

 

In 1991, Asia's first animal therapy programme, " DR. DOG " was

launched in Hong Kong. Today, under the guidance of the Animals Asia

Foundation and the coordination of locally based groups, over 300

" Canine Consultants " have joined the " DR. DOG " programme Asia wide and

are promoting and expanding the unique concept of animal assisted

therapy into China, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Japan.

 

Just recently, under the coordination of the Blue Cross in Chennai, DR.

DOG was officially launched for the first time in India. As Dr. " Bozo "

ambled into the Pathway Centre for mentally-ill children, there were

squeals of delight as the children ran forward to stroke this unusual

therapist.

 

The reaction from the directors and staff of the centre was also

positive as confirmed by resident Director, Dr. ADSN Prasad, who

enthused that the new therapist offered immense benefit to his wards.

" The dog is one being that will listen to the children without a

pre-qualification " he smiled.

 

The idea for DR. DOG - " India style " was inspired over one year ago by

Blue Cross Chairman Dr. Chinny Krishna during an animal welfare

conference in the Philippines where he saw local group PAWS (Philippine

Animal Welfare Society) bring their Dr. Dogs into the symposium hall.

 

>From that second he believed that the programme could work well in India

and approached DR. DOG and Animals Asia Foundation Founder, Jill

Robinson MBE, who readily agreed to help launch the programme there.

 

One year later, thirteen suitable dogs have been selected to start the

programme in two cities of India - in Chennai under the coordination of

Blue Cross, and in Bangalore under the coordination of Compassion

Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA).

 

Already the reaction and feedback is more than encouraging. Vasanthi

Rajiv who is coordinating the programme for the Blue Cross observes that

the dogs are gentle and child friendly and are proving to be warm and

loving best friends for the children.

 

" The children intuitively took to Dr. Bozo and very soon they had formed

a tight circle around him, clamouring for his attention. The sight

that remains in my mind is that all of the kids followed Dr. Bozo to the

school gate and waved until we turned the corner. We are all

emotionally richer as a result of this whole experience. "

 

The benefits of being in the company of animals are well documented and

many studies show that the physical and psychological well-being of

patients can be improved through simply stroking a dog or a cat.

Scientists believe that a closeness with animals can have a natural

healing effect on many medical conditions and statistics show that the

average blood pressure and cholesterol levels of patients owning pets

are lower than those who don't.

 

It's not only the patients who benefit either. Hospital staff can enjoy

a few moments away from their daily routine as they experience a new

concept of people and animals living in harmony, and the dogs themselves

seem to enjoy the extra love and attention from new friends.

 

" Across the world, including Asia, dogs are our heroes. " said Dr. Dog

Asia Director, Winnie Luk Yan Ling. " They give their help, their

love, and sometimes their lives working side by side with humanity -

and we are proud to expand this programme in Asia, which allows more and

more people to embrace dogs as our best friends. "

 

 

More on Dr. Dog in Asia:

 

 

Dr. Dog Head Office Organisers: Animals Asia Foundation, Hong Kong -

Winnie Luk Yan Ling (852) 27912225 wluk

www.animalsasia.org

 

Dr. Dog India Coordinators: Blue Cross India - Vasanthi Rajiv (91)

44-4995223 or 91-44 5011925 - bonda

 

 

Ends.

 

*****************************

[Guest guest]

It is a good project .But I have seen only pedigreed dogs used as Dr Dog.Do

they use ordinary dogs?

It would be a great idea if they can use ordinary dogs as Dr Dog.

Recently we found out Board of Investment of Sri Lanka has allowed a

European to breed Dobermans and he is selling his dogs for 15,000 rupees but

it is very difficult to find homes for ordinary pups which are given free .

Using pedigree dogs indirectly help puppy mills.

I have suggested to introduce breeding licence for breeding such dogs.

Does countries in Asia have such methods to stop puppy mills.

Kala

[Guest guest]

Hello Kala, it's true we're overweight with pedigrees - in fact considered a ban

for 6 months with a plea for more x-breeds, but as yet haven't implemented. We

do have cross breed dogs

in all countries (including " Eddie " a market dog rescued in China - and two of

the 13 recently selected in India were street dogs (one with 3 legs!) - and are

actively encouraging more.

The ideal, of course, would be a majority of mixed breeds, but people just don't

volunteer them as enthusiastically as the pedigree Retrievers etc.

Jill.

 

 

santhak wrote:

 

> It is a good project .But I have seen only pedigreed dogs used as Dr Dog.Do

> they use ordinary dogs?

> It would be a great idea if they can use ordinary dogs as Dr Dog.

> Recently we found out Board of Investment of Sri Lanka has allowed a

> European to breed Dobermans and he is selling his dogs for 15,000 rupees but

> it is very difficult to find homes for ordinary pups which are given free .

> Using pedigree dogs indirectly help puppy mills.

> I have suggested to introduce breeding licence for breeding such dogs.

> Does countries in Asia have such methods to stop puppy mills.

> Kala

>

>

> For more information on Asian animal issues, please use the search feature on

the AAPN website: http://www.aapn.org/ or search the list archives at:

aapn

> Please feel free to send any relevant news or comments to the list at

aapn

>