Animal magic

Published on Thursday 7 February 2008 15:58

WHEN Alison, a teenager from Aberdeenshire, seemed to be losing her battle with anorexia and spending ever longer periods of time in hospital, her grandfather had an inspired idea. He knew it would be good if his granddaughter could be outdoors, but was aware she wouldn't be comfortable around people. So he took her to the local animal sanctuary.

Alison was painfully thin and needed a feeding tube to support her. On her first visit to Willows Animal Sanctuary in Fraserburgh, she could only manage to pet the animals – which included rescued dogs, cats and horses – for ten minutes. But being there took her mind off her illness, and her grandfather brought her back every week.

One day, arriving on her own, she walked straight up to Flora, a bay horse, and began stroking her neck. "I saw what was happening and my heart and my stomach switched places," said Jenny Gray, the sanctuary manager. "Flora had been badly neglected before we rescued her and had a tendency to bite and kick humans. I was sure she would attack Alison. To my amazement, though, Flora stood there quietly and nuzzled her as if she knew the girl was fragile. It made me realise that animals can empathise with vulnerable people and help them in a way that no drug or therapist can."

Alison did eventually make a full recovery and the part the sanctuary played in helping her inspired its animal-assisted therapy scheme. Now the animals at Willows are visited every week by people who have a whole range of ailments, from mental illness to drug addiction and alcoholism.

"The biggest joy we get out of the programme is seeing the change in people," says Gray. "We get so much positive feedback."

Seven million dogs and nine million cats share the homes of British families, and owners say that love and companionship are the main reasons for keeping an animal.

"Research shows there are physical and psychological health benefits associated with interacting with animals," says Jo-Ann Fowler, director of the Society for Companion Animal Studies, a charity dedicated to promoting the reciprocal health benefits for people and their pets. The SCAS has found that not only do pet owners have fewer minor health problems, but they also show fewer signs of stress, and have lower heart rates and blood pressure.

One study, of breast cancer sufferers between the ages of 50 and 60, found that patients with pets made a speedier recovery than those who had no pets. Another study, examining the health of recently bereaved women, concluded that pet-owning widows had fewer physical symptoms than those without pets. Animals can even help improve a child's attendance at school. Dr June McNicholas, a health psychologist, found that pet-owning children aged five to seven attended school on average three weeks more than those who did not own pets.

Gray says researchers and healthcare professionals are beginning to look seriously at the healing impact animals can provide. "Lately, there has been such a shift in focus over health and healing, and animal-assisted therapy is just a part of that debate. People recognise that their pets make them feel better, and research shows they can help us to lead healthier lives."

The use of animals in therapy is commonplace in the United States. There, it is estimated that more than half of all nursing homes, clinics and hospitals use animals in a therapeutic capacity. Organisations such as the Delta Society, in Washington, train animals to visit patients and provide support to the lonely and the depressed. They have also helped to pioneer studies that document the effects of animal-patient interaction.

In 2005, researchers from the American Heart Association found that hospitalised heart-failure patients who were visited by a dog benefited from decreased anxiety, diminished release of harmful hormones and reduced blood pressure. After a 12-minute visit from a dog, levels of the stress hormone adrenaline dropped an average of 17%, and patients' anxiety scores fell more than twice as much compared with a visit from a human volunteer only.

"This study demonstrates that even short-term exposure to dogs has beneficial physiological and psychosocial effects on patients who want it," says Kathie Cole, lead author of the study and a clinical nurse at the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. "This therapy warrants serious consideration as an adjunct to medical therapy. Dogs are a great comfort – they make people happier, calmer and feel more loved. That is huge when you are scared and not feeling well."

The Royal College of Nursing has endorsed animal therapy and it is beginning to be used more in the NHS, says Gray. "In some ways, we are lagging behind, but animal therapy can be fantastic intervention and there is a lot of interest for it.

"We are working with providers to make it a responsible practice for both people and animals, as well as raise its profile and make it more well known."

• For more information, see www.willowsanimals.com; www.pethealthcouncil.co.uk; and www.scas.org.uk

Pets win prizes

Pets for children Keeping a pet can teach children about responsibility, as well as helping to develop other life skills such as patience and empathy. But bringing a pet into your family is a big decision. Work out how much time, money and space you can give any new addition before you visit the pet shop.

The best buys for the over-threes are guinea pigs, mice, and hamsters – they're small and tame, and, apart from cleaning and feeding, do not require much attention. Rabbits are a little more work but make good pets for children aged seven and older.

Pets for the elderly Having a pet can help elderly people feel less lonely, and give them something to care for. But they'll need something small, quiet and not too energetic. Cats are therefore a good choice – they are low-maintenance and can happily spend hours being stroked by their owners.

Smaller dogs thrive on attention and usually are fairly manageable – a Boston terrier is calm, friendly and easy to house train. Shih-tzus are very affectionate – the only downside is their long coats, which require frequent grooming. Pomeranians are a good option too. They need little exercise and, while they have fluffy coats, do not need to be groomed as often as other toy breeds.

Consider an older dog from a shelter too – these are usually house-trained and calmer than puppies.

Dogs for allergy-sufferers Bichon friss, malteses and poodles are all known for having beautiful coats that shed little and produce little dander (skin flakes). Even so, with all of these breeds, daily brushing is recommended.

A celeb's best friend

• Kylie Minogue credits a pet dog with helping her win her fight with breast cancer. "Sheba was the love of my life," Minogue said recently of the Rhodesian ridgeback – Olivier Martinez's dog. "She was very important during my treatment – there were many long hugs on the sofa."

• Paul O'Grady (aka Lily Savage) says that his dog Buster, a shih-tzu cross, helped him to recover after a heart attack in 2002. As well as Buster, O'Grady has chickens, goats, donkeys, pigs and a cow.

• A fluffy pomeranian comforted Sharon Osbourne (below) during her battle with colon cancer. "They had a real bond, and it was Minnie who sat loyally beside Sharon's bed during those terrible months she was fighting against cancer," a friend said.

• Sopranos actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler credits her dog Hailey, a labrador-rottweiler mix, with helping her to get over both divorce and an eating disorder. "She's been a great comfort. I never feel alone and always feel protected with Hailey while walking around with her – no one messes with us!"

• Drew Barrymore's dog Flossie is a life-saver. The labrador-chow, who had been rescued from a shelter, barked at the bedroom door to wake the actress when her Los Angeles home caught fire in 2001.

• Joss Stone, who has a poodle called Dusty (presumably after Springfield, since the similarity is uncanny), was named Best Celebrity Pet Owner in 2005 for her efforts to help animals left homeless by Hurricane Katrina.

• Geri Halliwell is so devoted to her shih-tzu, Harry, she takes him everywhere – parties, the gym, restaurants, you name it. However, true to his breed's name, he pooped on the floor at Chequers during a visit to Tony Blair. She even wanted to take him into the Top of the Pops studio with her but he was banned on health-and-safety grounds. And after a series of failed relationships, it seems Harry is the only one poor Geri can rely on.

• Lily Allen was devastated when Maggie May, her English bull terrier, was stolen. She was eventually returned to her grateful owner, but with a few extra visitors – fleas – leading the singer to worry her pooch had been maltreated.

• James Hewitt is said to have found comfort listening to music along with his wolfhound Tess following his break-up with Princess Diana. However, he no longer has the dog – it is being looked after by another girlfriend he had at the time, Emma Stewardson.

• Justin Timberlake says he doesn't need a wife as long as he has his two boxers, Buckley and Brennen. "As for marriage and so on," he says, "I have my two dogs for kids. Never say never, but why ruin a good thing?"