Animal Assisted Therapy for Cancer Patients
This is Ozzy, he is a 7 year old purebred Boxer and also the love of my life.
Ozzy was initially a gift from my brother for my sister-in-law. She had Boxers growing up and he wanted to surprise her with Ozzy. Less than a year later my dear sister-in-law and Ozzy’s mom was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer at the age of 35.
After diagnosed Linda and my brother had little time to take care of a rambunctious Boxer puppy, so he went to live with our dad for awhile, and then eventually found a permanent home with me. I will never forget how Linda’s face would light up for the joy that Ozzy brought to her while he was visiting his momma. We still fondly recall the happier times when Linda would talk to Ozzy her made up southern accent and say “Hi Boy!” as soon as she saw him. Weak and think from chemotherapy treatments, Linda, ever the brave soldier and cancer fighter would stand at the sink doing dishes and Ozzy would come up behind her with his squeak toys and nose them right into her butt, even when she hardly had any butt left at all and she would just laugh and smile. These are the bittersweet memories that we are now left with that still bring a smile to my face. Devastatingly, after over a two year long valiant fight, she eventually lost her battle with this insidious disease and left us for her heavenly home.
The statistics and research regarding pet therapy among cancer patients show that there is a vast benefit associated with having a furry friend in that person’s life during those crucial times. Animals have been proven to improves quality of life through increasing exercise and overall activity levels, as well as decreasing anxiety, depression and despair. It is my hope that through the use of this site I will be able to bring together animal rescues, veterinarians, philanthropists, animal behaviorists and activists in order for all of us to pool our resources in a fight for the greater good. Thereby simultaneously working to eradicate the cancers inherent in society as well as those that plague our bodies.
