PRO ANIMALS

 “SOUL TO SOUL “

animal therapy programme

We had the thought of starting this kind of problems on our minds for a long time but we knew it will not be so easy. We just wanted to improve somehow the life of people who have no hope for tomorrow, who were left down, abandoned by their families or , because of their health and mental condition, had no possibility to take care of themselves all alone. There had been made reasearches in this domain and it was demonstrated that, in many situations, an animal is more efficient than the medical treatment.

Also through this programme we want to show that animals,dogs in special, are really important in the evolution of the man’s behavoiur and condition, that animals can really change our day and have a very important role. What really counts is to open our minds, let them near us and believe in their capacity of making what we call "miracles".

First, we gathered the necessary information needed, choose our most sociable and lovely dogs and afterwards we went to find out the Centers where we could start this kind of programme. It wasn’t an easy task especially taking into account the attitude of people towards animals, especially to bring them inside centers like this. We tried to convince directors about the benefits of this kind of programmes, but they were very reticent and had no trust, taking it as a game. But,we have a very optimistic attitude, especially that we really belive in our programme, so even if we were refused, this was not a reason for walking away. Finally,we found a public Center where the director was open – minded and said that he will be very delighted to start this programme.

This pillot programme, as far as we know in Romania, was started in October 2006 at the Center for Old People and Persons with Disabilities from Suseni, Gorj county.

Every week-end the Association representatives together with one or two dogs , de-wormed, de-flead, vaccinated, are visiting this Center. There are a lot of sick persons, with disabilities, without a loving family or friends. This Center is their “home” now, they have food, clothes, but this is not enough, because their soul is sad. Though, we are trying to bring them a smile and make the Sunday more lightness.

We found in this Center animal lovers, who became friends with our dogs MIKA, DOLLY,KIKI and also with us.We spend some time with each of them and listen their story of life. They tell us about the animals that they had at home and little stories about them, but they also put us different questions about our dogs and talk to them also. They feel appreciated and so grateful !

They  pet our dogs and love to keep them into their arms. It is really emotional to see so sad faces when we enter the room, but transforming in shinny and smiling faces when they see us and our dogs.

We are trying, when we have financial possibilities, to offer them some sweets and fruits; we decorate their rooms with flowers, and make small gifts. There are persons who know that we are coming and keep some food for our dogs and feed them when we come.

Our dogs are very sociable and love to stay with the people, as if feeling how much they need to have attention and to have someone around them. The worst enemy of this people is the loneliness and the lack of affection, but our dogs , through their behaviour, bring those people a smile on their face and lighten their day.

When outside is a nice weather, we take out in the the courtyard with the wheelchair those persons who are paralised.; we are talking, playing on accordion and playing with the dogs.They laugh when our dogs make small tricks or ask us to push them faster to catch our dogs, when they run ahead.

Those people became our friends now. They ask the Center staff about us, they ask them when we will come next and what are doing our dogs. They became very close to us, they tell us often how much they love us and how much they want us around!

In 2006, we organized Christmas together with our Santa Clause’s dogs, we decorated their rooms with Christmas tree, floral arrangements and we offered them box gifts with sweets, juice, oranges, and photos with them and our dogs. We had their participation too, they helped us the way they could. They were happy for taking part in organizing Christmas day, as usually the staff is doing this, and and they still keep the gift photos beside their bed, showing it to any person who come to visit.

As you can see, there were also press articles about event."The old people from Suseni center received presents from Santa dogs."

In 2007, on New Year‘s Eve we offered them different small gifts and also we made some calendars having like principal characters our dogs and all persons from the Center, and we put it on the walls from each room.

This programme is the first and the only, as far as we know, from Gorj county but also from Romania, and after all this period we realized that everyone was satisfied even the medical personal. We just hope that another institutions too will follow this example and the directors will think about peoples’ benefit, will open their mind and will not care anymore about their old mentality.