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At school's new center, animals
help students reach their goals
Therapy program offers interaction, rewards for progress
Students at Lansing's Beekman Center have a new place to do
their work: Joe's Pet Shop.
by Tracy Burton,
Lansing State Journal, December 13,
2002
For more articles visit
www.bridges4kids.org.
The new animal therapy center boasts a dog, a turtle, guinea
pigs, doves, finches and rabbits.
About 210 students with developmental disabilities attend the
public school on Wabash Road.
"This is just another piece of the puzzle to get the kids to
accomplish their goals," said Susan Dumont, manager of the
center's therapeutic horse-riding program.
Both of Beekman's animal programs are facets of a
Michigan-based program that teaches and rewards children for
positive behaviors.
The shop is named after a former Beekman employee who set up a
temporary pet shop when the center opened 34 years ago.
Harley, a 7-year-old Welsh-Corgi, has been at the center for
nearly six weeks.
Student Eric Grove gives a thumbs up to Harley's presence.
"It feels good" to interact with the dog, he said.
Dumont said her daughter Alyssa, 15, has already shown
positive responses from the dog.
"It's getting her to follow some simple directions and what
she is asked to do," Dumont said of her daughter.
"I know she behaves better so she can have time with Harley."
Pets have been shown to decrease anxiety, stress and
depression in children, said Nikki Malzahn, Beekman
psychologist.
The animals offer emotional and social support, while teaching
responsibility and increasing mobility goals, she said.
"This isn't a petting zoo," Malzahn said. "It's a true therapy
program."
Animals stay at the center all week and have volunteer foster
homes on weekends.
They were donated by Ingham County Animal Control and a
Portland veterinarian will provide services for them.
Parents and staff hold fund-raisers to pay for food and
bedding for the animals. Students will sell homemade dog
biscuits and collars.
The center plans an after-school pet therapy program and one
to train therapy dogs.
Camie Heleski, Michigan State University animal science
instructor, said animals can offer a lot of positives to
children.
But more scientific research on child-animal interaction is
needed, she said.
"I think we'll find out even stronger and better ways to use
it over time," Heleski said.
Sometimes children just need to express their problems or
concerns, she said.
"The animal can be a completely nonjudgmental therapist that
just listens and listens," she said.
Contact Tracy Burton at 377-1206 or
tburton@lsj.com.
How to help
To buy collars, birdhouses or all-natural cat and dog
treats, call 325-7527.
For a schedule and prices for the horse-riding program, call
325-7527.
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