Pet-Assisted Therapy

The San Diego Humane Society has a unique group of volunteers. Those who help run the Pet-Assisted Therapy program bring animals like dogs, cats, guinney pigs and rabbits to places where people are usually not allowed to have pets. Because this group knows the importance of human-animal interaction and the therapeutic value that animals have on people, they take time out of their busy lives to bring some peace to those who struggle to find it. I've talked to a couple of the volunteers with the program, as well as the director, and among all of their different stories, they all said the same thing- whenever they bring animals to a hospital, convalescent home, juvenile facility or nursing home, the residents feel like they can escape reality for a while. One volunteer told me a story about a boy who woke up from a coma after a guinney pig was placed on his chest. He had a guinney pig as a child, and the stimulation of the animal brought him out of the coma. This is an emotional reminder to us all that animals have the power to heal us. I would like to extend a special thanks to the volunteers who took the time to talk to me and share their stories with me. To learn more about the Pet-Assisted Therapy program, go to the SD Humane Society's website and look under the "Pet-Assisted Therapy" tab. Thanks for reading!

ICanHasCheezburger

Okay, so this one's just for fun! Go to the website ihasahotdog.com for some of the funniest pictures you will ever see. If you're having a bad day or if you just love to smile, check out the site. It's on my Favorite's list and is the first site I go to when I turn on my computer. Have fun!

The San Diego County Fair

I volunteer with a group called Laborador Harbor. We raise money to help families with labs that need emergency surgeries. Last weekend we had a booth at the San Diego County Fair, or maybe as it is more affectionately known, the Del Mar Fair. We had a great turnout, and we were lucky enough to have many new email addresses added to our list. I was so glad to see how many people were touched by the stories of our dogs who need help. There are many groups like ours out there. One rescue group is called Southern California Laborador Retriever Rescue, Inc., and they are a great source of information if you're looking to rescue a lab, donate money, or volunteer your time. Thanks for taking the time to read today's blog. The San Diego County Fair was a great success, and we hope to have many more events like this in the future.

Bella

A couple nights ago I was watching the Animal Planet (as I have been known to do from time to time) and the show "From Underdog to Wonderdog" came on. The premise of the show is to take dogs who live in really destitute conditions and train them, spruce them up and find them a family to live with. The episode that was on the other night was about a little terrier named Bella. She had matted fur, poor social skills and was all around in need of some love. The family she went to had a little boy with some disabilities. When Bella was cleaned up, she went to her new family. She and the little boy bonded, and she brought out his real personality and made him smile and laugh. The little boy, who was so shy and quiet, laughed at little Bella as she played. I just wanted to share with you the power of animals on the human soul- even when they themselves need love, they are capable of bringing a smile to those who don't smile enough. Thanks for reading!

Bichon Fur Kids

My major has introduced me to some great rescue groups in San Diego. I found one, Bichon Fur Kids, that has done awesome work to help bichons in need. I went to an event in May, the Bichon Bash, at the Rancho Coastal Humane Society that Kim Moore, one of the main organizers, consideres the biggest event of the year for the group. To put it simply, the event that Bichon Fur Kids put on was fantastic. There were probably close to a hundred little white fluffy dogs running around scores of booths, picnic tables and auctioneers. Raffles were drawn and items such as doggie-first-aid kits and heated comfort pillows were given to those who had donated to the raffle. The money raised for this event went to the organization, which helps rescue Bichons from terrible situations and place them with caring foster families and, hopefully, loving permanent families. The photos on the Bichon Fur Kids website are heartbreaking, but they remind us all that there are animals who need our help. Take some time to visit the site. I will have more links availble soon, and will also post some stories of love that show the healing power of animals. Thanks for your time!

Check Out My Work on JMS Reports!

As a senior journalism student at San Diego State University, I have worked hard over the last four years to develop a niche that allows me to follow my passion- dogs. I believe that animals, especially dogs, have the amazing power to heal the soul and bring joy to those who need it, and I have made it my goal to share this power with others. In my capstone journalism class, I had the opportunity to write two stories about animals who help others and animals who are in need of help. Please check out my class's website to find out more about some really great animals in San Diego.

Thanks,
Jen