Friday, June 06, 2008

PETPOSITIVE MAKING A DIFFERENCE THROUGH POWER OF PETS

MORE AND MORE MALAYSIANS WITH DISABILITIES AND THE ELDERLY ARE BEGINNING TO DISCOVER THE POWER OF PETS IN DAILY LIVING - THANKS TO PETPOSITIVE!

One of the ways that they are finding this out is through talks and awareness raising activities conducted by the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association
which was established for this very purpose on June 7, two years ago.

PETPOSITIVE is the only nationally registered, non profit society that carries out such activities for the Society's target members as well as for the general public. To date, about 110 disabled and elderly persons have encountered live animals at PETPOSITIVE'S functions.

However, not all venues currently permit pets in their buildings - something that Our Society wants to see changed when it concerns special pets for the handicapped and seniors.

PETPOSITIVE also spend a lot of time raising this issue at other meetings. One of them was at a monthly meeting organised by the Malaysian Parkinson's Disease Association in Kuala Lumpur. Even though the disease itself possesses an insidious nature, people who have the condition can and do enjoy a high quality of life.

They are able to do this with support from their caregivers such as their families and friends and through organisations that are set up to help people with PD (Parkinson's disease) like the Malaysian Parkinson's Disease Association in Kuala Lumpur.

PETPOSITIVE was invited late last year to give a talk to about 30 persons. Most of them had PD or were caregivers of such persons.

Our team comprised of Dr Jon S Satyamoorthy, our former Secretary and veterinarian, Fasidah Sabeh (our current Secretary), volunteer Captain Abdul Karim Stuart Russell and me - aNt - as President.

We received the invitation from Sara Lew, the President of the MPDA. Sara is also one of PETPOSITIVE'S Committee Members.

We had a wonderful time sharing with all the members about how partnerships with pets can help them achieve a higher quality of life and personal happiness for themselves.

One PD patient in a wheelchair also shared about how wild birds that visit his hous
e each morning also played an AAT role in his life. We were all most inspired to hear his powerful testimony.

As a result of the public talk, which was held at the Dewan Pantai at the Pantai Medical Centre, at least one caregiver has approached our Society and have requested about getting a pet dog for her husband.

PETPOSITIVE is currently looking into ways in which how this can be done. Do look out for updates on this in our future posts.

Earlier in April of this year, nearly a dozen members of PETPOSITIVE were invited by the MPDA to join their members in a most memorably hot air balloon ride in the Astaka Field in in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

The event, which was a huge success, was brilliantly put together by the MPDA.

In the meantime, here are some of the pictures that we took at our AAT talk session at Pantai hospital for your viewing pleasure.

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