PETALING JAYA: A four-year-old special canine has been appointed the top dog of a newly established animal-assisted therapy society that aims to bring cheer to special children, the disabled and the elderly.
Happy Animal-Assisted Therapy Society, or Happy Therapy for short, was named after a dog rescued by canine welfare project Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better (MDDB) in Johor Baru in 2013.
“Happy was found with half the flesh on her face eaten by maggots. She spent nine months in a veterinary clinic before she was discharged,” said MDDB project coordinator Melinda Joy Gomez.
According to Gomez, Happy’s vibrant and sociable personality triggered the idea to set up the animal-assisted therapy society.
Happy Therapy president Peter Tan said Happy’s affable character and outgoing personality makes her a good therapy dog.
“I was enamoured by Happy the first time we met. She was warm and friendly and greeted me by wagging her tail vigorously,” said Tan, who is a wheelchair user.
All the therapy dogs in the Happy Therapy group, said Tan, are rescued disabled canines.
Tan said disabled dogs are often carefree and happy to be given a second chance at life.
“Their jovial spirit is infectious and with the necessary training, they are excellent therapy dogs for disabled people, special children, the elderly and generally anyone who needs a pick-me-up,” said Tan.
When contacted, Malaysian Mental Health Association deputy president Datuk Dr Andrew Mohanraj said turning disabled canines into therapy dogs was a brilliant move.
Meanwhile, Gomez said the training for Happy Therapy’s dogs will be provided by the Dr Dog programme.
(The Dr Dog animal-assisted therapy programme is an initiative pioneered by renowned Animals Asia founder Jill Robinson in the early 90s whereby “animal welfare is promoted through people welfare”.)
The programme’s Malaysian coordinator Salehin Ibrahim said he already has a blind dog, Dr Bean, in his pack of therapy dogs.
Although Salehin would be doing the training, said Gomez, Happy Therapy dogs would not come under the Dr Dog banner.
She said Happy Therapy would be initiating its own branding which would emphasise the disabled dogs’ strong survival instincts.
Full Article: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/07/10/happy-to-bring-cheer-to-those-who-need-it/
Dr. Andrew Mohanraj 