First session of dog therapy, with the arrival of 4 dogs, yesterday, in the pediatric ward of the San Paolo hospital in Milan. Designed to give a smile and give relief to hospitalized children and their families, the initiative, which will involve other Italian hospitals in the coming months, is part of the project ‘One paw is enough‘, conceived and promoted by’ For a smile onlus’ and supported by Elanco, one of the main international companies dedicated to the health and care of 4-legged friends. The company and the association communicate this in a joint note.
The 4 dogs who, accompanied by as many coadjutors of ‘Time for childhood‘, they crossed the threshold of the Pediatric ward of the Milan hospital, they met the little patients with their families for a different and lighter afternoon. Among the proposed activities: reading the history of the dog; creation of a photographic booklet that you can read or listen to; posters to understand the dog and how to interact with him; the game of the little veterinarian and the memory of dog breeds.
“We welcomed with pleasure the gift offered to us by ‘For a smile onlus’ and Elanco – he declares Giuseppe Banderalidirector of the Pediatrics and Neonatology facility, of the San Paolo hospital in Milan -. We have opened the doors of our facility to these special little dogs because, as a pediatrician, I strongly believe in the possibility that dogs, and other pets, have to connect with the most fragile patients.. In this historical moment of post Covid and human frailty, especially for children and the elderly, the intervention with dogs has precisely the ability to reduce situations of stress and emotional anxiety “.
To benefit from the visit of the puppies are not only “the patients and their families – continues Banderali – but also the health workers who carry out an extremely important and responsible job. Dogs are able to relate to patients, even the most complex ones, and give them positive stimuli. It was a very exciting experience and we are convinced that dog therapy is a help in the hospital to make the spaces more welcoming and familiar. “Yesterday’s – reads the note – represents the first of a series of Iia’s sessions. (Animal assisted interventions) of the ‘Basta una paampa’ project which is present in a network of Italian hospitals – as well as schools – with pet therapy interventions for 4 years and which, together with Elanco, will continue in the coming months in various departments pediatrics throughout Italy.
“We are really happy and excited for this collaboration, which allows us to make our contribution to support the little patients. We have always taken care of animals because we are convinced that they enrich us and fill our lives: with pet therapy this is more evident than ever.”, He comments Mario Andreoli, General manager of Elanco Italia, on the occasion of the launch of the initiative. The pet therapy activity gives children a sense of protection in a phase dominated by uncertainty, diverts attention from the hospital environment, strengthens complicity towards hospitalization, increases trust in health professionals, helps to elaborate a language verbal and non-verbal in communication and constitutes an indisputable relief valve.
“Something extraordinary always happens when a child sees a four-legged friend running towards him. And it also happened here at the San Paolo – he observes Ludovica Vanni, president and founding member of For a smile Onlus -. The routine of hospital life suddenly changes. Curiosity arises and the desire to get out of bed and play. Dog therapy helps young patients to increase self-confidence, reducing tension and improving their psycho-physical well-being, thus also giving joy to their families.“. Very special collaborators in the dog therapy sessions are the employees of Elanco who, on a voluntary basis, can take part in the days to make their contribution to the community and the territory with the ‘Global day of purpose’ initiative, a day in which the company, ideally and concretely, ‘returns’ what it receives to the host territory. This day is part of the Elanco Healthy Purpose program, which supports causes of social responsibility around the world.
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