Happy Anniversary to the Scottsdale Police Department's Crisis Response Canine Fozzie
Happy Anniversary Fozzie!
On February 25th, 2009 Scottsdale Police Department's Crisis Response Canine Fozzie celebrated his first anniversary. As a trained therapy dog, Fozzie provides comfort and unconditional love to people in Scottsdale during times of tragedy.
He is a 'Golden' ray of sunshine in times of trouble.
Did you know that petting an animal will reduce your blood pressure and stress? Animals also decrease feelings of loneliness and isolation. In 2003 an eighth grader named Jeff Luttrell conducted a study for the Pueblo Middle School Fair. He wanted to see if the presence of a dog would help relieve pain and anxiety in children undergoing chemotherapy. The results proved what Jeff already knew from personal experience. The children who played with animals felt better and recovered more quickly than those who did not. A rabbit named Thumper helped Jeff during his own treatments for leukemia.
As we learn more about the human-animal bond, a growing number of organizations are using animal assisted therapy to help people cope with stressful events. In addition to Scottsdale, the Glendale Fire Department has a Crisis Response canine named Topaz. Another therapy dog named Hannah works with the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections. She helps troubled youth deal with anger and grief. In 2008, the military sent their first therapy dogs into battle. Sergeants First Class Boe and Budge are serving in Iraq with the combat stress units. Their presence helps our military personnel deal with the stress of combat and living away from home.
So again, I want to congratulate Fozzie and his handler Anthony Pagliuca on their first anniversary. I would also like to thank Michigan based Paws With A Cause for donating Fozzie to the people of Scottsdale. And a big thank you to all the therapy animals who toil to help us humans. Keep up the great work!
From left to right: Hannah, Topaz and the guest of honor, Fozzie at the Vista del Camino Community Center.
(Photo courtesy of James Vail, volunteer with the Scottsdale Police Department.)
What beautiful dogs! Happy Anniversary Fozzie! Great entry about stress and pets. Very touching story about the rabbit. Love your blog, wonderful work!
Cheers,
Galia
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The human animal bond has enormous & largely untapped potential to improve human health and quality of life whilst at the same time improving animal health and welfare. Everyone should learn about this bond and the associated research findings. Learn how to improve human health through having contact with animals. This is especially important for those in the health & social care professions as the bond provides new effective & affordable ways to help clients with diverse health and social problems. Check out the work of the Delta Society in the US, SCAS in the UK and IAHAIO - the international organization in this field. You will be astounded at what can be achieved by working with carefully selected animals. IAHAIO was accorded Working Partner status with World Health Organization. Undergraduate and postgraduate courses are increasingly becoming available. Courses include animal assisted therapy; pet bereavement support; humane education; offender rehabilitation. Check out the work of Project Pooch if you work in corrections. The human animal bond can change your life - and that of your client group.
Elizabeth Ormerod, Chair of SCAS (Society for Companion Animal Studies
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