The Friendship Foundation

The Friendship Foundation volunteers and their pets visit various facilities to enrich the lives of children and adults. A designated liaison arranges and attends all group visits. The Friendship Foundation brings the healing comfort of companion animals to people of all ages who are hospitalized or confined.

Our program offers a unique approach to stress reduction for hospitalized patients by sharing volunteer-owned animals with the patients to aid in the healing process.

These visiting animals include dogs, cats, kittens, rabbits and guinea pigs. All of these animals are carefully health and temperament screened every six months by our animal behaviorists and volunteer veterinarians.

As the pets are shared by friendly, attentive volunteers, they offer love and acceptance to patients without any judgments about how they look or move. Patients interact with the animals, volunteers and staff in a safe environment, often exchanging stories about their own pets. The animals offer a restful distraction from pain and relief from stress. While it's not always acceptable to touch other people, it is perfectly all right to hug and pet the eager Friendship Foundation animals. It feels good to be the giver of attention to an animal instead of always being the helpless recipient of care. Laughter erupting as the dogs do tricks or a kitten chases a string has been shown to release chemicals in the brain that aid in healing.

PREPARATION

		Know the animals. If you don't have the information you need about an animal you will be sharing, ask a visit supervisor. Be aware if the needs of the patients you are visiting. Many older patients have decreased senses of sight and hearing. This means: (a) the sense of touch is that much more important as a source of stimulation and pleasure, and (b) you'll need to SPEAK LOUDLY A patient's other needs may be helped by (a) hand holding and other affectionate touching; (b) sincerely given compliments; and (c) remembering to kneel down so that the patient is not looking up.

PRESENTING THE ANIMALS

1. Always ask the person first if they want to touch or hold the animal. It's good to encourage it, but if they say no, respect their wishes.
2. Present the animal at the patient's waist or below, NOT from above or at their face level.
3. Protect the animal by presenting it to patients in such a way that they are discouraged from poking at its face. Turn it sideways or backwards.
4. If the patient wants to hold the animals, ALWAYS place it on the patient's lap, NEVER in their arms or hands.
5. The use of towels under the guinea pigs and rabbits protects the patients from little claws and other accidents and gives the animal a familiar, comfortable surface.
6. If an animal is jumpy or exhibits any unusual behavior, put the animal back in its carrier and notify the visit supervisor.
7. If a patient handles and animal too roughly and you cannot correct this by taking the patients hand and tactfully demonstrating the proper touch, remove the animal from the patient right away.
8. NEVER leave an animal unattended with a patient, for the animal's safety and because the patient needs YOU too.

1. Animals must be spotless, odor-free and flea-free! Dogs must have had a bath within two days of a visit. They cannot have any sore spots, hot spots or be ill.
2. Walk your dog before a visit so no "accidents" can occur. If your dog is an active one let it play before the visit.
3. Do not let your pet sit on furniture on visits. The next patient or visitor may be allergic to pet (or not appreciate animal hair on his clothes).
4. Keep your dog on a short leash (preferably 4 feet).
5. Be aware of what your dog is sniffing at all times. If a patient has an I.V. or urine bag, do not let your dog sniff it. Also, be sure your dog is not sniffing an open wound on a patient.

TAKING AWAY THE ANIMAL

HOW THE FRIENDSHIP FOUNDATION LOOKS TO OTHERS

• Dress: Let's go clean, neat and comfortable. Wear clothes that are easily washable. A Friendship Foundation shirt or brightly colored shirt is advisable. Many places we visit have the heat turned up so wearing layers helps.
• Clean UP: We need to clean up messes the animal make immediately. If you don't want to do this, just alert the visit supervisor at once.

HOW THE FRIENDSHIP FOUNDATION FEELS TO ALL OF US

YOU ARE THAT SPECIAL PERSON WHO LOVES ANIMALS AND PEOPLE, TOO. Your time, energy, warmth and caring are an important part of the teamwork that makes our animal-assisted therapy program a valuable resource to our community.