"He'll come up so you
can pet him, and he's just the sweetest little dog," says
Anne Huber, Hans' owner,
says her dog helps patients recovering from illness or injury concentrate on
their physical therapy.
"Petting him, they
really have to control the movement of their hands," says Huber. "They
have to be gentle because they don't want to hurt the dog."
Animals can play an
important role in helping humans recover from illness or injury. Some therapy
animals need extensive training for the job, but others are natural-born
caregivers. Research shows animal-assisted therapy can reduce patients' heart
rate and blood pressure. It also lessens their anxiety during medical
procedures, increases their long- and short-term memory, and increases their
motivation to get well.
Though Hans is not a certified
therapy dog, he uses his wheelchair to overcome obstacles on a daily basis, and
reminds patients of everything they can still do.
"I feel so bad for
him," Mell says. "But he manages, he gets
around."
Huber says she thinks
moving around and helping people improves Hans' quality of life. "This dog
is wandering around, and it doesn't seem to bother him at all," she says.
"It actually enhances his life."
This article was reported
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