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72 GoodLifeFamilyMag.com MARCH APRIL 2016 Two years ago a yellow Labrador named Maddie was an abused dog left on the side of the road with her ten puppies. They were taken to Canine Soulmates a foster group in Hurst and four-year-old Maddie got a second chance when her handler Jane Nolan adopted her. Talk about making the most of second chances. Rather than justlivingthegoodlifein her new home Maddie used this opportunity to help others. Maddie and Jane work together as a therapy dog team through Pet Partners a national leader in animal-assisted therapy. I saw that Maddie had a really good temperament and a very kind heart. explained Jane. You cant always find dogs that are mellow sweet and approachable. Dr. Brian Benjamin of the Ohio Drive Animal Hospital in Plano agrees that a good temperament is key for a therapy animal. Atherapyanimalshouldnthaveanytrustissues. explained Dr. Benjamin. Plus you can provide behavioral training so the animal will be patient not afraid of loud noises and not aggressive. To get her working papers Maddie was evaluated and trained through A New Leash on Life the McKinney-based chapter of Pet Partners. After a physical and behavioral evaluation as well as six months of training in obedience socialization and manners Maddie got the green light. Therapy Animals Work Wonders Maddie and Jane visit area hospitals retirement homes and other facilities where the healing power of animal-human interaction works wonders. We just help give a little bit of normalcy to the day and help them feel better says Jane explaining how patients days are filled with tests medication needles therapies and exams. Therapy pets also ease grief stress and loneliness which is why Flora Ellias Dr. Benjamins receptionist takes her three-year-old Irish Wolfhound Sheldon to visit patients through the Vitas Hospice Paw Pals Program. You can easily see the connection that people have with the dogs says Flora who has been taking Sheldon on hospice visits three times a month for the past two years. Some patients are nonverbal until the dogs visit and then they start talking. Rehab patients with mobility issues will pet and brush the dogs. Even Alzheimers patients sometimes recall a pet they had from childhood. Dr. Benjamin also comments on the therapeutic effects that animals can have on people. There have been studies done that show the simple process of petting a dog or hearing a cat purr can release endorphins that benefit a persons state of mind. Jane Nolan has Witnessed the Benefits First Hand One five-year-old boy in oncology had lost his sight and was feeling nauseous recalled Jane on a past visit to Childrens Medical Center in Dallas. He was petting Maddie trying to figure out what she looked like. I said Do you trust me and Maddie He said Sure. And I said Were going to play a game. Youre going to touch her and tell me what part youre touching. After he figured out he was touching Maddies head he said it felt like her heart because shes so soft and I thought that was so intuitive of him. It made him calm down and be more relaxed. It was a special moment. The Healing Power of Therapy Pets goodDOG Formerly abused and left on the side of a road 4-year old Maddie now spends 4 days a week bringing joy to others alongside her owner Jane Nolan. I saw that Maddie had a really good temperament and a very kind heartsays Jane. There have been studies done that show the simple process of petting a dog or hearing a cat purr can release endorphins that benefit a persons state of mind. - Dr. Brian Benjamin Ohio Drive Animal Hospital ohiodriveanimalhospital.com by Lisa A. Beach