Posts tagged "TherapyAnimals"

'Kasey to the Rescue' Author Ellen Rogers Talks About the Monkey That Helps Her Paralyzed Son

by Kirsten Taylor (Subscribe to Kirsten Taylor's posts): Nov 2nd 2010 11:00AM Filed Under: Exotic Pets

helper monkey photo Ned and Kasey. Claudia Kronenberg Photography

In June of 2005, Ellen Rogers got the call every parent fears. Her 22-year-old son, Ned, had been in a car crash. He'd suffered brain injuries and was paralyzed from the neck down. The Rogers' lives changed in an instant, but they survived the ordeal, thanks to Kasey, an Argentinean capuchin monkey trained to assist the disabled.

Rogers recounts the touching story in her new book, "Kasey to the Rescue: The Remarkable Story of a Monkey and a Miracle," which hits stores this week. Rogers recently talked with Paw Nation about Ned, Kasey and life with a monkey.

After your son's accident, why did you decide to adopt a helper monkey?
It was enormously challenging to hear that he had been in a terrible car accident. His injuries were devastating. It was a very difficult time. Once he was stable enough, we took him to a spinal-cord specialty center in Atlanta. They brought in a dog that had been trained specifically to help people who are in wheelchairs. Somehow or another this thought came into my head. I said to Ned, "Didn't we once see something about monkeys that help disabled people?" He rolled his eyes. That evening I got on my laptop and the first e-mail in front of me was one from my daughter's school saying that Helping Hands, which trains monkey helpers for the disabled, would be doing an assembly at her school. It was like divine intervention.

Ned was still focused on trying to come to grips with his injury. I had gone to the website and seen all the wonderful things monkeys can do. I didn't need to be convinced. From that moment on, I was on a mission.

Was there a bit of adjustment period when Kasey arrived?
Monkeys are a lot of work. They have a very sophisticated hierarchy. The first challenge was that Kasey had to understand the hierarchy in our house. I have five kids and two crazy dogs. We have a lot of nurses and aids that come in to help my son. [Kasey] had to understand where she fit.

She was a little aloof in the beginning. She did do wonderful tasks for my son. He'd ask her to itch his face or fetch the remote, and she'd do it, but then she'd jump back over to her cage. Over time, once she learned to respect her recipient and her caregiver -- Ned and myself – then she started to feel comfortable. As soon as that happened, the bond between my son and Kasey really began to develop. But it took several months.

What other sorts of things does Kasey do for Ned?
She'll turn the lights on and off, get him a bottle of water, put a CD in his CD player and turn it on. Earlier on, without being told, if his arm would fall off the armrest of his wheelchair, she'd pick it up and put it back on the armrest. She'll adjust his feet on the bottom of the wheelchair.

In the News - Robert Pattinson to Adopt Canine Co-Star, Pet Food Recall Expanded

by Kristen Seymour (Subscribe to Kristen Seymour's posts): Aug 3rd 2010 3:00PM Filed Under: Pets News, Celebrity Pets, Animal Nutrition

robert pattinson dog Robert Pattinson runs with a canine co-star on the set of "Water for Elephants." Blanco-Ionu, X17Online

Robert Pattinson to Adopt Dog From "Water for Elephants"
Robert Pattinson has found love on set, but we're not talking about his "Twilight" co-star Kristen Stewart. This time, it's a dog who's stolen his heart, reports ShowbizSpy. Apparently, Pattinson was so taken with the dog in his latest film, "Water for Elephants," that he's planning to adopt him. Pattinson's previous dog, Patty, passed away last year, and in March, Pattinson revealed that he was still grieving her death. We hope that this new furry friend will help mend the actor's heart.

Pamela Anderson Helps Dogs Affected by Gulf Coast Oil Spill
Nearly 50 dogs affected by the oil spill in New Orleans have a brighter future thanks to Pamela Anderson. The actress and honorary director of PETA is helping move 48 dogs from the area to Virginia, where a special emergency adoptathon will give them all a chance at a loving forever home, reports PopEater.

Procter & Gamble Expands Voluntary Food Recall to Include Eukanuba
P&G is recalling several veterinary and specialized dry pet foods due to salmonella concerns. Although no salmonella-related illnesses have been reported, Iams Veterinary Dry Formula, Eukanuba Naturally Wild, Eukanuba Pure and Eukanuba Custom Care Sensitive Skin have been recalled. For details, please see P&G's full news release.

Dogs Teach Kids to Read. Really.

by Rebecca Quimby (Subscribe to Rebecca Quimby's posts): Nov 3rd 2009 3:00PM Filed Under: Dogs

Lisa Saroyan

Sit. Stay. Read.

There's a new kind of therapy dog in town thanks to Intermountain Therapy Animals, which runs a nationwide program called R.E.A.D, or Reading Education Assistance Dogs. Through this program, volunteers and their dogs help children learn to read by providing a captive, non-judgmental canine audience that allows children to practice reading aloud in a way that feels safe.

Tricia Clifford, National R.E.A.D. coordinator, told Paw Nation that the program started about ten years ago. "We noticed that when dogs are there everyone calms down," she said, citing studies that have shows spending time with animals can lower blood pressure and reduce stress. When dogs are around, said Clifford, "the kids don't feel like they're being judged. They calm down, and they can read out loud. Then the handler can chime in through the dog –- 'He doesn't understand this part.' –- something like that." The children feel like they are teaching the dogs something, which lends them a sense of confidence. The program's coordinators claim that this helps improve not only reading skills, but often test scores and school performance too.

So just how does an ordinary pet become a reading coach? The dogs are registered in animal-assisted therapy, and the handlers attend all-day workshops to learn techniques. The dogs are then tested for basic commands and to make sure they have the right temperament to sit quietly with children. Clifford told Paw Nation that any dog owner can get involved by visiting their Web site, TherapyAnimals.org, which lists all the steps for becoming registered and includes information on local groups.

"Our goal is to continue to help kids overcome their fear of reading aloud," Clifford said. It occurs to us that the dogs might enjoy all the attention... and getting to hear stories too.