by Polarn » Mon Feb 13, 2012 11:32 am
my grandfather was hospitalized for about 2 years before he passed due to a headinjury (he got pushed down a set of stairs when he refused to give up his watch when someone tried to rob him) and his two dogs landed in my care, and he had some memories most of them really old, some more recent, he remembered the dogs and was constantly asking where they were why they wern't living with him etc, he recognized me but thought I was my uncle etc. Anyways we got him rehomed to a home that was for old people rather than sick people but with the possibilities to give him constant care since he couldnt move around on his own etc. Anyways, at the new home animals were allowed, not as residents but as visitors, so I started bringing the dogs thee everyday during the afternoons, and most of the folks living there really appresiated the visits since we usually walked by the livingroom area where they could play cards etc. (all these folks were confined to wheelchairs except a couple and I think all of them had some issues with memory and knowing who they were and where they were.. anyways the visits with the dogs were highly appresiated and a lot of the patients previously not wanting to leave their rooms asked the staff to move them out to the common areas in the afternoons when they knew I would stop by with the dogs, and if i ever showed up without the dogs they all asked about them (I was in school and didnt have time to get the dogs before visiting every day, and i felt visiting was the most important even if the dogs were left hom a day or two)
But I do think animals overall is appresiated in situations like these, especially animals they can pet and feel the soft fur, since most people has had a dog or a cat sometime during their lifetime. Saying that I dont think a parrot show would be any less appresiated, although it requires you and your birds to perform, rather than spending a couple of hours sitting there playing cards or watch TV and let the dogs walk around to be petted, and as for kids, what kid does not like a show with animals, just look at what parks can sharge for a parrotshow or dogshow etc, as soon as it is a show with any type of animal you usually will have to pay extra and the lines fill up.
I currently do work with children, sometimes when I am not encumbred with studies, but I try to work around my studies so that I can be present when group of kids come with physical issues (sorry about my wording I do not know the proper terms in english and I do not wish to sound disrespectful). Anyways when we have group of kids here we let them hang out with horses, try ride them also help us feed the goats and bunnies and look for eggs. all the animals used in these events are well socialized, even the goats come when you call them by name and they kind of act like dogs when being padded, at these things we usually serv a lunch or hot chocolate and biscuits etc depending on what time their here. then Ive for the past 5 weeks been bringing Polarn downstairs to sit at a playgym keeping us company. even if some of the little girls come here loving horses they all seem to think it is really kewl with a bird that is able to be outside the cage, comes when you call him and can wave goodbye as he is put away again. that is about what my bird knows so far but just that alone is fascinating by kids, so having a little birdshow I think would be highly appresiated... see if i get there sometime... Prolly wont be travelling around to hospitals but has been thinking about incorporating it into the meeting the animals activities, seeing the biggest reason for doing it is to break up a normal everyday booring life and let kids that normally wouldnt get the opportunity to experience things that other kids does. some kids are freequent and come here weekly, others are booked in by organizations that has gathered kids together to come here. not all kids are disabled that we work with i might add, but thosue are the groups where I usually spend the time studying or working with the birds instead. Sorry about the long post, but yeah I think bringing animals to homes etc is a good idea, becouse it puts a little bit of bling back into the golden frame of everyones lifes, and for some people that frame is fading away. And if you can help out restore just a corner of it thats all good.
Have any of you done something like this? Would you share your tips/concerns/experiences?
) kinda making sure to let them know it is okay to enjoy things others think is for girls or whatever. I grew up around horses... never really been my biggest interest, but I do enjoy having the opportunity to borrow horses and ride whenever i like, but I would never get one myself simply becouse I am not interested in riding every day, especially not during winters.
I think it is quite a terriffic idea to use budgies or cockatiels for things like that, for two reasons, one is to show that even small birds can learn, the other is since you mentioned posting for pictures etc... in case the bird do happen to bite them it is a little more barable with a smaller bird.