Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital, a specialised paediatric hospital in UAE, has launched a one-of-a-kind animal-assisted therapy programme in collaboration with Reading Dogs, a programme of The Animal Agency, a UAE-based organisation.
The programme, which will be piloted over three months, will treat children with human-animal interaction therapy
sessions with specially trained dogs. The programme builds on evidence of the benefits of human-animal therapy that has been shown to decrease stress and
depression by increasing the levels of feelgood
chemicals – specifically, serotonin, oxytocin, and dopamine in the brain, alongside enhancing relaxation, building trust and empathy.
Dr. Mohamed Al Awadhi, Chief Operating Officer at Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital said: ‘‘Our world-class teams of highly qualified medical experts and paediatricians are setting new standards for paediatric healthcare excellence on a
local and regional level. Our hospital is a place where SMART technology and design converge to enhance patient care and outcomes. The hospital also aims to foster clinical innovations, astute learning and development programmes. Our innovative partnership with Reading Dogs
is a natural extension of this.”
Karalynn Thomson, Founder of the Animal Agency and Reading Dogs, added: “The launch of the dog-assisted therapy programme with Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital builds on the hospital’s commitment to bringing innovative care to children. We look forward to supporting that mission and helping children on their recovery journeys.
“Animal-assisted therapy offers patients positive human-animal interactions in
a clinical setting, bringing emotional support at a vulnerable time. The human animal
bond is a mutually beneficial relationship that positively influences the health and well-being of both.”
