| Trent Consultants News: Adults who use pet | | | | Medical Center Information Systems, LUHS. "Part |
| therapy while recovering from total | | | | of our responsibility as volunteers is to acclimate |
| joint-replacement surgery require 50 percent less | | | | these dogs to people. The Loyola community has |
| pain medication than those who do not. These | | | | so graciously supported this training and the use |
| findings were presented at the 18th Annual | | | | of service dogs on campus." |
| Conference of the International Society of | | | | When the dogs are approximately 15 months of |
| Anthrozoology and the First Human Animal | | | | age, Havey and Vlasses return them to CCI's |
| Interaction Conference (HAI) in Kansas City, Mo. | | | | regional training center for six to nine months |
| "Evidence suggests that animal-assisted therapy | | | | where they are trained to be one of four types |
| (AAT) can have a positive effect on a patient's | | | | of assistance dogs. |
| psychosocial, emotional and physical well being," | | | | Service dogs are trained to assist with physical |
| said Julia Havey, RN, study presenter and senior | | | | tasks and provide social support to their partners. |
| systems analyst, Department of Medical Center | | | | These dogs learn 40 commands to enhance the |
| Information Systems, Loyola University Health | | | | independence of people with ailments ranging |
| System (LUHS). "These data further | | | | from spinal cord injuries to multiple sclerosis. |
| support these benefits and build the case for | | | | Facility dogs are trained to work with a |
| expanding the use of pet therapy in recovery." | | | | professional in a visitation, education or health-care |
| Trent Consultants News: Animal lover Havey, and | | | | setting. They can perform more than 40 |
| colleague Frances Vlasses, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, | | | | commands designed to motivate, rehabilitate or |
| began raising puppies to become assistance dogs | | | | soothe clients with special needs. |
| more than a decade ago through a program called | | | | Skilled companion dogs are trained to work with |
| Canine Companions for Independence (CCI). The | | | | an adult or child with a disability under the |
| non-profit organization provides highly trained | | | | guidance of a facilitator. Disabilities served include |
| assistance dogs to people with physical and | | | | cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, autism and |
| developmental disabilities free of charge. | | | | Down's syndrome. A skilled companion also can |
| "As nurses, we are committed to improving the | | | | serve as a social bridge to people who are not |
| quality of life for others," said Vlasses, associate | | | | used to relating to a person with disabilities. |
| professor & chair of Health Systems | | | | Hearing dogs are trained to recognize and alert |
| Management and Policy, Loyola University Chicago | | | | partners to various sounds, such as a doorbell, |
| Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing. "This service | | | | alarm clock or smoke alarm. The average service |
| experience has provided us with a unique way to | | | | life of each dog is eight years. After that time, |
| combine our love for animals with care for people | | | | the dog retires to live out its golden years as a |
| with special needs. | | | | pet. |
| In addition to the financial obligations that go along | | | | Havey and Vlasses believe that animal-assisted |
| with raising a puppy, Havey and Vlasses take the | | | | therapy will ultimately become a standard of care |
| dogs to class and teach them house and public | | | | for healing. The pair will continue to advocate for |
| etiquette until they are old enough to enter a | | | | this therapeutic option through public speaking |
| formal training program. | | | | engagements and philanthropic work. Adapted |
| "You might see our four-legged friends around | | | | from materials provided by Loyola University |
| Loyola's campus from time to time," said Havey, | | | | Health System. |
| RN, senior systems analyst, Department of | | | | |