The Pet Prescription
See Spot run. Then see Spot lower your blood pressure and boost your immunity. Really
By Josh Fischman
Posted 12/4/05
Page 3 of 3
Not everything with animals is a success story. Groups of people interacting with dogs don't seem to get therapeutic effects. Giving multiple sclerosis patients a fish tank didn't help with their depression. And Horton isn't able to get a response from every injured patient.
In a way, animals are like pills: Whether they work depends on the individual and on the situation. But properly used, their support and stimulation can be a boon. As one Inova Fairfax patient put it: "Human therapists nag at you. Dogs are more fun. They don't ask me any questions, and I don't have to give any answers."
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