When dogs become therapists

A natural talent

Looking at the requirements for the animals, she thought Lucky was well-suited for the job, and she decided to have her tested in Shanghai. That was in February 2023, and Lucky performed exceptionally well, passing on the first attempt.

"At that time I wasn't clear about what a therapy dog was supposed to do," Wu said. "After participating in PFH's activities, I realized that many organizations and groups are in great need of mediators, and certain kinds of animals can fill the bill in ways that are quite different from human volunteers."

After passing the exam, Lucky was channeled into internships at various organizations in a sort of doggy graduate program using Wu Qi's system.

"I am happy to see her improvement," Wu Jingyi said.

During one visit to a nursing home, Lucky met an older woman who loved dogs but showed some fear around larger ones, such as this border collie.

"I could see the smile in her eyes, but she hesitated to come closer to Lucky," Wu Jingyi said. "So I asked Lucky to show the woman that she is safe and controllable. When someone gives Lucky food and I say no, for example, she will not eat it."

Wu asked the elderly woman to count down from five to one, after which Lucky would be allowed to eat. This made the woman very happy, Wu said.

"She went from being guarded and fearful at first to expressing a desire to try. We then asked if she would be willing to pet Lucky if she wasn't too afraid. And she agreed."

Wu brought Lucky a bit closer to the woman's knee, and after a little petting, the fear vanished.

"The whole process may not sound very complex, but I could see genuine joy," Wu said.

PFH collaborates with experts from domestic and international autism rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, neurology hospitals and special education programs to develop training programs for therapy dogs in China. It primarily serves elderly individuals with cognitive problems, children with autism and individuals with physical disabilities, anxiety disorders or depression.

"The program aims to help the elderly and children with special needs strengthen their interactions and communication with the external world. It enriches their lives through the assistance and companionship of the therapy dogs," Wu Qi said. "It also promotes the exploration of normal social interactions for children who have special needs through long-term therapy with the dogs. The animals can help these young people integrate into society."

The organization hopes to enhance public understanding of cognitive impairment, autism and other conditions to increase society's general acceptance and understanding, he said.