WORCESTER—Somehow, everything seems better when patting a dog (or cat). Countless studies confirm the health impacts of having a pet, from lowering heart rates and blood pressure to effects related to mental well-being. Hanging out with Rusty, Rompers or Daisy can cut down anxiety and stress, and improve someone’s overall sense of comfort and happiness, even with just a short visit.
It’s precisely why therapy dogs and emotional support dogs have become exceedingly popular, and why organizations such as Paws for People were created. This animal-assisted intervention program offered through Tufts University launched in 2004, and functions as a Community Partners Group of the national Pet Partners Program.
The group has about 60 member teams (a team is an animal and handler) who visit a variety of facilities, including residential psychiatric programs for both adults and adolescents, medical hospitals, primary schools, elder care facilities, universities, libraries, and shelters. Visits generally are of an informal nature, where people can come and interact with various animals – there are miniature horses, guinea pigs, rabbits and cats as well as many different types of dogs in the program – to relieve, for instance, stress around treatments or exams.
“Animals make wonderful non-judgmental listeners to emergent readers in literacy programs,” said Deb Gibbs, program director for Paws for People. “They also provide an opportunity for people to reminisce about the past, or to work in a different way with therapists, teachers and doctors. Recently, we have started ‘Workplace Wellness’ programs with several corporations as they have employees return to working in person, which can be stressful in our post-pandemic era.”
Inspired by studies that support that interaction with a dog or other animal has the ability to help people relax, Worcester Public Library event coordinator Tara Jankowski launched the “De-Stress with Dogs” program at the library, which Paws for People teams visit on Saturday, Dec. 30, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The event is free, no registration is required, and is open to all ages.
“This program gives patrons and staff the opportunity to experience the positive effects of interacting with animals,” said Jankowski. “They get to pet the dogs, brush them, take photos with them and just hang out. It’s a wonderful way to spend an hour and a half at the library, and it’s a big mood booster. Everyone loves the dogs and the dogs love everyone – it truly is a program for all. It gives people a moment to take a break from whatever they’re doing and reset, then return to their task relaxed and refreshed.”
Jankowski said she’s seen parents bring children to this program to teach them how to be gentle with animals or to overcome their fear of dogs. She recalls several instances in which the program was especially effective in helping participants with their situations and mindsets.
“A woman who was visibly upset was sitting near the program area, but not taking part in the visit with the dogs,” Jankowski recalls about a recent “De-Stress” session at the library. “A big fluffy Great Pyrenees named Badger was closest to her, so I and Badger’s handler told her she could pet him. The woman was tentative at first and even apologized for her reaction to the bad day she was having. But with encouragement from me, Badger’s handler, and of course Badger himself (who immediately offered his head for a scratch and flipped over for a belly rub) she was able to find comfort in the midst of her difficult situation and left the library with a smile on her face.”
Jankowski adds that one of the amazing aspects of interacting with therapy dogs is that they are accessible to everyone regardless of socioeconomic status, language, or ability, and are non-judgmental companions.
Tufts Paws for People offers guidance to facilities like the library wishing to start their own programs safely and effectively. Paws also works closely with the Tufts Initiative for Human-Animal Interactions to provide support for research around the area of the human-animal bond.
Find out more about Paws for People, including training to become one of the visiting therapy dog teams, here.
News? Events? Info? Tips? Don’t hesitate to reach out to Charlene Arsenault at carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org
