In the veterinary field, connecting with people is just as essential as connecting with their pets.

It's a large part of why the work that the animal health technology (AHT) students' community outreach committee on the public relations team is so important. Not only does this work promote the therapeutic benefits of the human-animal bond, it also helps the students remember the role that pets play in the lives of the humans they are bonded to.

Their community outreach activities involve demonstrating those benefits to young and old as they run a dog reading buddy program at St. Jerome's School and visit the residents at the Vermilion Valley Lodge.

Brittney Sperling, second year AHT student and chair of the outreach committee, explains, “The children are always so excited to read to the dogs. It's a safe environment for them to learn how to read out loud and improve their skills, and sometimes they even stop to show the dogs the pictures. Their confidence is boosted because if they make a mistake, they aren't worried that someone is going to judge them.”

Students evaluate the dogs used in both programs at the beginning of the school year, testing them on their ability to behave around children and seniors, as well as other potential challenges, like wheelchairs. Approximately 10 dogs qualified this year and are able to attend either program, wearing bandanas that say they passed their evaluation. During the reading program, a Lakeland student is always with the dogs to ensure they behave.

“The most important thing about the program is that it teaches children to feel free while they're reading,” Sperling says.

Her favourite part of the program, however, is visiting the independent living and assisted living wings at Vermilion Valley Lodge, which the outreach committee does every second week.

“The seniors just love visiting with the dogs,” Sperling explains. “We find, especially in the assisted living wings where some people struggle with dementia, having the dogs there really can bring back memories for them. A lot of the residents had pets growing up. It just brings back these happy memories. The residents in the independent living area love seeing the dogs too. We try to bring the same dogs to visit them each time so they get to know them."

It's not only the children and seniors who are impacted by their time together, Sperling says. The outreach programs have important lessons to teach her and her classmates as well.

“It's so important to reach out and connect with your community, to be involved and to show the benefits pets can have,” she says. “It also ensures we have a good sense of the importance pets have in people's lives. In our field, we take care of people's pets but it's so important to always be aware of how important those pets are in someone's life.”

 

Photos: From top to bottom: 1. Link snuggles up with a student at St. Jerome's School. 2. AHT students pose with their canine friends. 3. A reading buddy dog is a big fan of Robert Munsch. 4. Two boys say goodbye to Sage after reading to her.