Pet Pals

Have you ever had a less-than-stellar day only to come home and see your favorite four-legged friend wagging its tail in excitement that you were home? If this unconditional love that animals provide can brighten our day, think of the way it affects those dealing with medical problems.

That's exactly what the Pet Pals program does. The program, sponsored by the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri, has 24 dogs that visit local hospitals and nursing homes in search of patients who would like a visit.

Not only are the special visits fun, according to Fran Sauer, a local speech pathologist, they also have a healing effect and improve rehabilitation. "They make the experience seem less clinical and help patients take their mind off their problems or deficits," Sauer said.

Another heartwarming aspect of this program is the types of dogs involved. While some of the animals come from breeders, most were adopted from local shelters.

The dogs are screened and tested for obedience and proper temperament, including the ability to respond to basic commands and tolerate environmental stimuli like loud noises.

If you would like to get involved with the program or have a dog to bring with you for visits, contact the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri at 334-5837 or visit www.semopets.org.