Learning with Animals

Last Friday I went on a great visit to the LJCC day camp that is presented by Hand in Paw called Learning with Animals. The kids at the camp were 1^st grade and up. I attended camp on the final day and I was amazed by how attentive and well-behaved the children were. They learned about therapy animals, how to train the dogs and they even got to demonstrate giving commands to the animals. I could tell they had learned a lot over the week about how to treat pets and safety around animals. After the kids left, I spoke with one of the Hand in Paw volunteers that is a school teacher. I asked her about the difference in the children’s attention and discipline as compared with her school children. She said she felt that the dogs had a calming effect on the kids. She also noticed that the interaction with the animals was a motivating factor for the children to behave. In addition to better behavior, several children were observed “coming out of their shells” as a result of the dogs. The more shy children made new friends more easily because they could bond with the other children with the help of the animals.  In my experience, people are far more social when animals are present.

Daisy and Bethenee and their campers

 Another interesting thing that I observed was when one little girl became upset over something and was crying. One of the dogs stayed right by her side until she felt better. Daisy’s pet partner said that she is very attuned to people’s emotions. The little girl had a visible improvement in her affect and mood while her furry companion paid so much attention to her. I am constantly amazed by the wonderful situations that I observe while going on these visits. I believe that I have a unique perspective, while the pet partners must remain aware of their animals and the people who they are visiting, I can sit back and watch for the subtle things that happen.  I am so excited to share these important, sometimes small,  impacts with the people who devote so much time, energy and love to Hand in Paw.