A Healing Touch : Pets Part of Therapy for Stroke Patients
Stroking a bunny or getting a smooch from a pooch is part of the therapy for stroke patients at FHP Health Care at Downey Senior Center.
“Someone who needs to do arm extensions (as part of their therapy) can reach out and brush a dog or throw treats to a dog or hold a rabbit in their arm,” said Ken Perlis, who runs the the nonprofit Companion Animals Meeting People. “If they need to do gripping action to build up strength, they can hold a carrot for a rabbit.”
Perlis rescued the program’s 17 pets, including dogs, cats, guinea pigs and rabbits, from animal shelters over the past 10 years. He takes them on the road from his home in Huntington Beach to hospitals, adult day-care programs, convalescent homes and psychiatric hospitals.
He said the animals are helpful because they are unconditionally loving and not judgmental. “It makes the people feel safe to try out things they have not felt comfortable to do with people,” he said.
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