Dogs have a calming effect on patients. It is a fact that people with pets live longer. Pets help improve your disposition. The anxiety from illness can be relieved by pet therapy.
Phoenix Children's Hospital has a computer order system where the doctor can order a prescription of animal therapy for a patient. They have a young girl as a patient at the hospital that has undiagnosed random pain. She does not move for fear of the possible pain. When pet therapy is prescribed, it draws her out of the bed. The 1/2 hour with the dog without pain teaches the patient that she can move about without fear.
The dogs in the program go through a rigorous training program to become therapy dogs. Call (602) 546-1000 or got to www.phoenixchildrens.com to learn more about the program