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No upsetting pictures on this link
As shown by the
outstanding success of our Dr. Dog animal therapy programme, the bond between
people and animals can be an incredible and powerful means of helping and
healing a wide variety of people within the health care community. The potential
for our Dr. Dogs to further contribute to society is enormous: Animals Asia is
expanding the scope of the Dr. Dog programme and increasing the positive impact
that dogs can have by creating exciting new roles for our Dr. Dogs to improve
the lives of more and more people in the community at large.
With talk of the English language standard dropping across Hong Kong, coupled
with a widespread fear of dogs amongst students that she had noticed during her
presentations at local schools, the “Professor Paws Pet Cadet” programme is
the brainchild of our Education Director, Anneleise Smillie, who came up with
this unique combination of improving the English language and literacy skills of
local children, whilst promoting another positive example of the ways companion
animals can enrich our lives.
Many children in Hong Kong, especially those living on public housing estates,
have never even had the chance to touch a dog and parents often tell their
children not to do so because they think they are dirty or carry diseases. The
outbreak of SARS last year played directly into this fear and Anneleise began to
think about new ways Animals Asia could tackle the problem and start changing
attitudes from a young age….
Research has shown that dogs can be instrumental in improving the
learning skills of a wide variety of children in an effective, unique and most
importantly, a fun manner.
Close interaction with dogs is proven to increase self-confidence and pro-social
behaviour amongst students, whilst encouraging the development of compassion and
widening their scope of experience.
Reading and learning become enjoyable activities as the dogs are an adoring
audience and valuable focal point.
Improvements go beyond reading and writing, children are more motivated to learn
and look forward to school.
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