Outreach program in animal assisted therapy

[ashleywong]

Hi All

I follow the news and progress on the Animal Assited Therapy program called DOc Doc (correct me if the name is incorrectly mentioned) with much enthusiasm and interest.

I'm wondering - would it be possible that we either volunteer to help or seek someone with resources and knowledge in this matter to help provide the same sort of training to the animals at the shelter - cats as well as dogs -

this would at least enable t

1) a second lease of life for these animals - giving them a "purpose from the human eyes" instead of just "waiting" to be adopted.

2) help to educate malaysians that animals do their own value and worth - if only we learn to look closer with objective eyes

3) help us to reach out to those who are in need, be it human or animals

[somebunny]

I don't have the qualifications to train the animals, but I wouldn't mind learning how to, or volunteering :) Have you done anything of this sort before, Ashley? Just wondering how it goes..

[ashleywong]

hi sombunny

like you i haven't done any, but i hope i can help out , if this is one more way to enlighten the general malaysian population on how precious life is, whether it's an animal or a human.

and furthermore this will help provide a second lease on life (i'm sorry that it has to come down to this) for these poor animals

they're deemed more "attractive" if they're "trained", "sociable", "clean", "Healthy", etc.

what i would like is also to help with providing classes/talks to owners or potential owners on pets behaviour or address certain of their concerns on pet behaviour so if they understand more, they'll enjoy more quality time with their pets with less understanding and as word spread, we can have more animal lovers everywhere in malaysia

big dream right? but i hope to see it come to pass in malaysia one day, if i'm still around to see it...