| Americans spent over $32 billion on their | | | | opposite direction. As the dog came closer |
| pets last year - and $25 billion on their | | | | and started wagging its tail the man became |
| children. This may come as a bit of a shock, | | | | so excited that he just had to pat the dog. A |
| however, we are becoming more and more aware | | | | huge smile beamed across his face as he |
| of the emotional and physical rewards of | | | | touched the soft head of the dog who happily |
| owning a pet - or especially a dog. | | | | lapped up the attention. But the owner of the |
| | | | dog became a little alarmed at this stranger |
| The converted will willingly tell you that | | | | and started pulling the dog away so they |
| owning a dog auto-matically gives you a | | | | could continue on their walk. She pulled the |
| constant companion, friend, confidante, | | | | dog away and walked on, but the man stopped |
| exerciser and instinctive soul re-generator. | | | | and watched the dog go. His face dropped, his |
| Yet it is only in the last decade or so that | | | | head bowed and he just stood there for quite |
| we have taken pets seriously medically, much | | | | a while and watched as the dog disappeared |
| to our own detriment. | | | | around the corner. It was a very sad and |
| | | | moving experience for both myself and the |
| Nowadays though, pet therapy can be a very | | | | boys as they saw the scenario unfold. From |
| important feature of cancer recovery | | | | that time on I vowed I would do as much as I |
| programs, prosthetic limb replacement | | | | could to bring people and animals together. |
| recovery, treatment for depression, speech | | | | And having our own dog supplies warehouse we |
| inducement for severely delayed children and | | | | were in a unique position to be able to |
| of course, just sheer pleasure for the | | | | help," she said. |
| elderly in hospices and aged care facilities. | | | | |
| | | | For every purchase over $20 from its range, |
| However, when you consider how many patients | | | | will donate a percentage of profits to the |
| clients and carers could benefit from the | | | | Delta Society whose main aim is to |
| pure love and support of a pet, the supply | | | | incorporate the benefits of pet therapy into |
| can never keep up with demand - that is, not | | | | varied programs which target the physical, |
| until now. is a new pet goods supplier that | | | | mental, educational and motivational areas of |
| has come up with what they think will be the | | | | people's lives. |
| answer to the dilemma. Owner of Adele Sims | | | | |
| saw firsthand the effects of having a pet | | | | With animal involve-ment in therapy, Delta |
| around - or not. "I was driving the children | | | | Society has found that both fine and gross |
| to school one morning and we saw a man | | | | motor skills can be improved, as can |
| walking along who was afflicted with muscular | | | | wheelchair skills. It can also dispel |
| dystrophy. His walk was staggered and his bad | | | | loneliness and reduce anxiety, develop |
| arm swung like a broken wing as he headed for | | | | leisure skills and promote short or long-term |
| home. We have often passed him on his walks | | | | memory. |
| and had become quite accustomed to him as he | | | | |
| walked up the middle of the road. | | | | The benefits are too numerous to count and |
| | | | now there is a way you can support this |
| "This particular morning we noticed that a | | | | essential cause whilst providing your own dog |
| woman with a soft and beautiful golden | | | | with all the supplies that this little hero |
| retriever was coming up to him in the | | | | deserves. |