Editorial

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Seminar on Human-Animal Interaction-the Bond,
Sheraton Subang Hotel

We organised the above seminar on 25 August with the Veterinary Association of Malaysia (VAM) Congress from 26-28 August and Federation of Asian Veterinary Associations (FAVA) Congress which Malaysia hosted this year.

The seminar was designed to create awareness on the benefits of human-animal interaction and animal therapy that scientific studies show can have remarkable benefits on the physical and psychological well-being of people.

The speakers were Anneleise Smillie of Animals Asia Foundation (Hong Kong), Sr. Pauline Quinn of Pathways to Hope (Canada), Dr. Teoh Hsieh Jin of Teoh Psychology Services (Malaysia) and Dr. Gen Kato of the Japanese Animal Hospitals Association (Japan).

Two messages were presented describing animal therapy programs currently being carried out. Anneleise Smillie introduced to the audience a Dr. Dog program pioneered by Animals Asia Foundation that promotes a new found respect for animals through an innovative, 'hands on' approach. Today over 300 professional dog 'doctors' visit hospitals, homes for the young and elderly, centres for the disabled, schools and orphanages across Hong Kong, spreading unconditional love and warmth to people in need.

Sr. Pauline spoke on a unique program developed by Pathways to Hope that helps long term prisoners learn how to become 'other' centered by raising and training dogs to help the disabled. The prisoners train these special dogs to open doors, pull wheel chairs, pick up dropped objects to help people who are unable to do these simple tasks.

The program also helps the prisoners learn how to groom dogs, become good trainers, helps them to have a positive attitude and brings meaning back into their lives. Not only does this help the inmates find hope for their lives, but it gives them something useful that they can do when they are released from prison. It is really a win-win-win situation...the prisoners, the handicapped and unwanted dogs all coming together to change lives.

The audience was especially moved by videos shown on the pet therapy programs.

The messages on coping with grief on the loss/death of a pet and the human-animal bond helped the audience understand the subjects better and even to equip them to help others facing situations.

Altogether it was a very informative seminar and from feedback received, the participants found it beneficial with many requesting for such seminars to be held more frequently in a year.

The response from one participant probably summed it up when she described the seminar as "having opened the hearts and thoughts of many in realising who our pets are and what they can do for us and society for the betterment of mankind."