Wei Jie claudiamente@hotmail.com SEVERAL therapy dogs received a warm welcome when they arrived at the Shenzhen Senior Home in Nanshan District in early December to provide residents with companionship and emotional support. Luo, a woman in her 80s, was particularly happy to see the companion dogs at the senior home, saying that she felt at ease with the gentle, friendly canines. “Their love is unconditional, and they bring us a lot of joy when they are here,” she said. The Shenzhen Senior Home is one of the city’s few social welfare institutions that regularly host therapy dogs. There are a total of 40 such dogs in Shenzhen, and they regularly visit residents at two senior homes and children with special needs at two rehabilitation centers. Affectionately referred to as “Dr. Dogs,” these canines are part of an innovative animal-assisted therapy (AAT) initiative that aims to enhance the physical and emotional well-being of individuals through interactions with animals. Therapy dogs can alleviate the effects of conditions like anxiety, dementia, and autism, among others. “A therapy dog’s companionship provides emotional support to the seniors by effectively reducing their feelings of loneliness and depression,” said a social worker at the Shenzhen Senior Home who preferred to remain anonymous. Founded in 1991 by Jill Robinson in Hong Kong, Dr. Dog was Asia’s first animal therapy program. Stringent evaluation and professional oversight ensure the program’s safety and sustainability. To qualify, dogs must be vaccinated for rabies and other infectious diseases, undergo a health check, and pass a rigorous temperament and obedience assessment conducted by veterinarians from the Animals Asia Foundation (AAF), which Robinson established in 1998. During visits to hospitals or senior homes, Dr. Dogs are supervised by AAF’s professional staff. From pet to healer A border collie named Chashao, which means “barbecued pork” in Chinese, has participated in two assignments as a Dr. Dog in Shenzhen since qualifying for the program a year and a half ago. Douni, Chashao’s owner, said that she learned about the program from a friend who volunteers with the initiative. “I became interested in getting involved after learning from my friend that these therapy dogs will help children with autism,” Douni said. She hoped to see her pet make a positive contribution to society, believing that the shared experience would not only bring joy to others but also deepen her bond with Chashao. According to Douni, there are several strict criteria dogs must met to become a therapy dog. For example, a therapy dog must be at least 2 years old and spayed or neutered. In addition, the dog must have lived with its owner for more than six months and be registered with the local authority. After submitting application materials, the dog owner will participate in an online screening session with program staff. “It was a fairly lengthy process that took almost two hours. I was asked all kinds of questions about Chashao’s daily routines, such as how many times I walk her and for how long each walk lasts,” explained Douni. After passing the online screening, a final in-person interview will determine whether a dog qualifies for the AAT program. During the final interview, an AAF examiner will assess the dog’s responses to its owner, strangers, and other dogs while also examining its overall health. Furthermore, the dog’s temperament will be thoroughly evaluated by exposing it to various scenarios that simulate future on-site visits. If the dog demonstrates calmness, gentleness, friendliness, and comfort with people it’s not familiar with and shows no sign of stress, fear, or aggression, it will successfully pass the examination. According to AAF staff, the NGO receives over 100 “dog doctor” applications in Shenzhen every year, but fewer than 10 dogs normally pass the rigorous selection process. Since being certified as a therapy dog, Chashao has visited children at a rehabilitation center with her owner. Recounting their first assignment, Douni said, “It was an educational activity to teach the children how to interact with dogs. Another older and more experienced border collie was present at that event, alongside Chashao.” Douni explained that there are regularly scheduled in-person activities that involve therapy dogs, but that not all registered dogs will be selected for every event. Event organizers determine which therapy dogs are best suited for the specific nature and requirements of each activity. Douni said Chashao has shown great enthusiasm in fulfilling the duties of a therapy dog during every assignment. Tailored interactions of ‘dog doctors’ The interaction during each visit by the therapy dogs is carefully tailored to the event and the needs of the participants, which creates a unique and memorable experience. In senior homes, AAT staff typically start by explaining to the residents what a “dog doctor” is and providing guidelines on how to interact with the therapy dogs. They also introduce the names and ages of the visiting dogs, which helps the seniors feel more connected to the furry volunteers. Next, the therapy dogs are brought to the seniors, who are allowed to stroke the dogs’ fluffy heads, feed them treats, and take photos with them. If a smaller dog, like a Pomeranian, is part of the team, AAT staff may ask if the seniors would like to hold the dog. Those with a love for animals or prior experience with dogs often eagerly agree, while those more hesitant are encouraged to observe others first, building confidence to interact with them. When the “dog doctors” visit a children’s rehabilitation center, the staff introduce them to the children before engaging in activities tailored to the kids’ needs. The dogs often participate in rehabilitation exercises, such as accompanying children during sit-ups. Some parents have observed that their children become more enthusiastic about these exercises when the dogs are present, even attempting activities they usually avoid. For children with autism, the therapy dogs provide a calm and non-threatening presence. They sit quietly near the children, allowing them to observe, touch, or offer treats at their own pace. According to AAT staff, some children warm up to the dogs quickly, while others prefer to watch from a distance and observe how others interact with them. By offering quiet companionship and adapting to each child’s comfort level, the therapy dogs help create a supportive, encouraging, and healing environment. “Certified therapy dogs tend to handle stress better and display affection towards humans. They can remain composed even in noisy environments and maintain a calm demeanor, adapting to the needs of the individuals they interact with,” said an AAT staffer. She added that extra precautions are always taken when visiting children with special needs. Each therapy dog is accompanied by a volunteer, in addition to its owner, to maintain order and ensure the safety of both children and the dogs during the event. Assisted therapy Therapy dogs are an integral part of AAT, which involves using qualified animals in a psychological treatment process by bonding the patient and the animal. AAT has shown great efficacy in treating conditions such as depression, anxiety, attention deficit disorder, dementia, and autism, with numerous cases abroad demonstrating how animals have helped soothe patients and aid in their recovery. Robinson, the founder of Asia’s first AAT program, owned a golden retriever named Max back in the 1980s. A veterinarian herself, she read in a magazine that dogs could provide psychological comfort to humans. The golden retriever, known for its gentle and emotionally stable temperament, was an ideal emotional support dog. This inspired Robinson to launch the program in Hong Kong. The concept was so novel at that time — when pet dogs were not widely accepted in Hong Kong — that many local hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers rejected her proposal. However, a breakthrough came when a local children’s hospital agreed to let her bring Max for an hour of activities. In August 1991, Max made his first visit as a therapy dog in Hong Kong. Robinson’s AAT program was introduced to the Chinese mainland in 2004 when cities including Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Chengdu started implementing AAT. In September 2022, Chengdu No. 4 Hospital in Sichuan Province became the first medical institution on the Chinese mainland to launch animal-assisted group therapy, during which therapy dogs were used in psychiatric treatment. Chen Jiajia, a staff member involved in the treatment, said that through petting, companionship, and interaction, some patients who had lost trust in people gradually opened their hearts without even realizing it. During group therapy sessions in some nursing homes, especially for seniors with cognitive impairments, the dogs often stimulate the desire of seniors to communicate. Interactions with the dogs often lead to joyful moments as the seniors reminisce about their past experiences with pets. | 