topic Pet Therapy in Supporting family and friends

Pet Therapy

wornoutmum — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 05:19:18 GMT

Hey everyone! My daughter is travelling so much better. After yet another disappointing appointment with authorities, we were talking about a friends horses. This friend and I use the term loosely had moved away about 6 months ago and left her horses in the care of her 18 year old daughter. We decided to have a look at them.

We were shocked and disgusted at the state of these 4 horses. We are in a drought here and to say they were walking(just) skeletons would be an understatement. We cried and cried together and then decided to help them. Little bits of food until they could cope with food, then we have been feeding for 3 weeks. My daughter is paying to feed them with her meager pay.. the comment on the worse of the horses was that he was old and dying anyway. so after getting advice on whether he could be saved, we approached them about making him ours. He is now ours. We couldn't see the others starve while he recovered enough to be moved so we still feed all of them.

As much as this was a sad situation, the change in my daughter is incredible. Not only is she conscientious about them but also taking her meds. Having someone else ( horses have souls) to worry about and take responsibility for has made a huge improvement. She interacts not only with the horse but with us. I have my girl back. will this last forever - Maybe not but having the Love back is great. What will happen when he does die, I don't know. However she can be confident that she has done her best to give him a good life. this was something that we talked about before we took on the responsibility. those days when she can't get up? A gentle reminder that she has a helpless horse that is relying on her gets her up. she is also now starting to interact with her friends again. Realising that they were there for her and those that weren't are out of the picture.

Can I recommend this to everyone? No because it may not be an option. I have to be ready to take on the role if she goes down again, which I am sure she will. But I can see the light starting to peek through and so can she!

Pet Therapy

Neil_1 — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 03:33:38 GMT

Dear wornoutmum

Oh WOW, what a truly beautiful story you’ve been able to share.

That is just so inspiring and wonderful – on so many fronts.

I can feel through your post how incredibly proud and happy you are for your daughter and the change that’s happened. It must be very moving and emotional for you as well, when you think about this situation.

We live in a suburban home and yet in our backyard, we now have two dogs; 4 chooks, 2 bunnies; and some fish in a pond, and a budgie in her cage in the house. All due to our beautiful daughter – and each morning, she’s outside feeding them, tending to them, etc. And also on the internet at times searching for different ways to treat them even better – and trying different concoctions of food. It really is a beautiful thing.

I am so pleased that you and your daughter have had this wonderful experience and I hope it continues for a long while yet – and it will be a very special relationship that she is building with these horses as well.

Kind regards

Neil

Pet Therapy

Doolhof — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 07:50:49 GMT

Dear WornoutMum,

Thank you so much for your wonderful post. I am so very happy for all of you, the horses too.

I am wondering if when this dear horse does eventually die, if your daughter can find another horse to look after. Are there animal rescue places near you that you are aware of? Could she help out at a stables close by?

I do so hope this horse lives for quite a while and your daughter can continue to improve and be reconnected with her world.

Loving animals is wonderful as you do receive so much pleasure from them. I enjoy being with our chooks, especially when they follow me around the garden, they are so cute.

Animals are used for therapy in so many places, it would be great if this source of pleasure was tapped into more often so more people could benefit.

Thanks again for the great story. Cheers for now from Mrs. Dools

Pet Therapy

wornoutmum — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 22:47:52 GMT

thanks Neil, she is currnetly away with me doing the tending to the horse. First time away from us for a while. so far no panicky phone calls.

Pet Therapy

wornoutmum — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 22:50:48 GMT

I hope nothing happens to him in the near future either. If it does, she knows that she has made his last time great and that is what is important. Depends on when as far as what happens next.

Pet Therapy

LML — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 10:56:18 GMT

Hi - if hubby &I manage to get to retirement I'm planning a dog.

Can your daughter become a volunteer at a shelter or something? As well as looking after the animals she would have like minded people around her teaching her good things she may be able to use in the future

🙂