Ian's story, from the kennel to pet therapy

The story of Ian, a pet therapy dog ​​found in a kennel, summarizes that of many animals who give so much to men after years of mistreatment.

This is the story of Ian, a dog who lived a long time – died in 16 years old:so much for a dog, little for us who live with them –, found skeletal and terrified in kennel and became, with love and patience, a perfect subject pet therapy, capable of helping the elderly and children, adults and the sick with his presence and dedication.Ian brought joy and relief and his story blends in with everyone else's dogs of the world, special beings who brighten our existence and give us so much, so much, asking for little - a distracted caress, a quick glance - but illuminating our darkest hours.Anyone who has an animal as a companion does not need me to remember certain aspects of our relationship with them.He knows it and is happy about it, only fearing the moment when he will have to let go of his partner due to the inexorable passage of time.

The initial distrust of Mario, later renamed Ian

Giovanna Monduzzi she is an operator of integrated relational pet therapy and dog assistant in Iaa.A very long and complicated definition for the one who was – and will always be, I imagine – Ian's companion in his long life journey and in his work activity.I therefore leave the floor to Giovanna, thanking her for her testimony which, I hope, can serve to better understand dogs and their "mission" in the world of men.

“Summer 2009:I was in the kennel and another volunteer came to call me because, knowing my passion for English setters, he absolutely had to show me the latest arrival.I entered his box, he was terrified and had his back to me and was in the corner, trembling and not being attracted by anything.Very thin, with several fractures and a clinical picture that spoke clearly, it was enough to look at his attitude to understand that he was a hunting dog, exploited and mistreated.Presumed age, three years.He had been found wandering around the countryside of Campogalliano, in province of Modena, with never registered microchip.For me it was love at first sight, but for him it wasn't like that:he fled from my gaze, he absolutely did not want to be touched, he trembled and did not eat in the presence of humans, especially male ones.He only left the box when the volunteers moved away.I lived with Lady, a young four year old setter, and after a few months we were going to live with my husband in a small house in the countryside.I went on for a while trying to establish with Mario – that's what we called it – a relationship made even just of small gestures of trust.He was a traumatized dog and we struggled to find the right family for aconscious adoption”.

“One day my husband came to pick me up while Mario was in the play area of ​​the kennel and I took him to see him.That was a moment we will never forget because Mario ran towards him and stopped to cuddle through the fence.At that moment they had chosen each other.A few weeks later, in fact, my husband gave me a great gift, he told me of his desire to adopt Mario, despite the fact that we had previously discussed the critical issues we might face.Mario was renamed Ian and came to live with us."

Lady's company

And so it was that Ian began to spend more and more time with Lady, buying safety And trust towards the surrounding environment and his new companions.“At first he was absolutely wary, to allow him to move between the house and the garden we had to move away from the door, but it was incredible how every day, following Lady, he gained a little more confidence.She had become his point of reference right from the start, and from their first meeting a beautiful understanding had developed", continues Monduzzi.

“Lady was his example in gaining confidence in us and in the new life that awaited him.My husband and I showed respect and calm towards Ian's needs and times, but above all we had contacted Maura Gazzotti, a dog instructor from long experience, to help us better understand what we could do to help him on this journey of rebirth.Ian always walked around with his tail between his paws and didn't look at us but, seeing Lady coming to cuddle, he gradually started to get closer and closer.We still remember the day when he put his back against my husband and let himself be petted for a long time, and when he stopped the dog I started calling him with his paw to receive more cuddles.At home he had become the portrait of serenity and at that point we began the journey of discovery of the outside world, accompanying him and trying to create optimal conditions for him.Lady, who was also my companion, has always been a great teacher in this co-therapist in her work as an operator integrated relational pet therapy.Ian accompanied us when we went to the Therapeutic harmonic center – Cat, our workplace;he wandered freely around the garden, retracing the entire perimeter and observing from afar what was happening between us humans".

Pet therapy activity

A pet therapy dog ​​is not that different from the four-legged friend who welcomes us in the evening, when we return home, or who brightens our free time with his presence.“We had nicknamed him the 'Freakkettone' dog for his free and joyful way of running.Thanks to the rehabilitation program activated with Monica Carnevali, one of dog trainers who collaborates with our team, Ian has also begun to familiarize himself with a place other than home in the presence of the other dogs of the center Cat.The friends and colleagues of the team, having particular knowledge and sensitivity on the matter, have always activated the right attitudes so that Ian's trust towards humans could be consolidated.I began to take him with me and Lady during the pet therapy courses that I carried out in the centre's garden, but it was he who one day decided to participate, showing an interest in the activity and the cuddles that came with it.So he began his journey from co-therapist”.

“This story covers a time span of two years:Ian lived the remaining eleven years in love and trust, joyfully accompanying us on many adventures, becoming a great example of resilience and how care and time are capable of heal the wounds of painful experiences.He taught us that as long as we are alive we can find the strength to open ourselves to new possibilities and to welcome what existence is ready to give us.He conveyed a lot and his story opened the hearts of several people.Ian has worked with children, adults and seniors, giving gifts joy and calm even to the most restless souls.In particular, I carry in my heart two boys who came from life stories characterized by trauma and with a need to gain confidence to start living again.Both managed to symbolically reflect themselves in Ian and his story.And it was he who gave them an extra tool and the strength to launch themselves towards the new opportunities that life can always give." Monduzzi says now.

Ian's legacy

Time waits for no one, they sang years ago Rolling Stones, and the relentless passing of the hands did not spare Ian and Lady."The August 2, 2021 Lady left us and Ian looked after her with love and devotion until her last moment.His gratitude towards her was evident, she had saved him and he allowed himself to be saved, welcoming the opportunity of a different life because in fact everything can change.In the following months he continued to look for her, until he slowly let go.The January 3, 2022, at the age of approximately sixteen years old, Ian has reached his Lady;now their bodies rest next to each other while I imagine their souls running free together.”

“There is a lot of emptiness left, but there is much more gratitude for everything we have experienced together in our family and in our working life as colleagues.I've told Ian's story, but it's impossible to tell it without also talking about Lady:they have been and will always be part of us, our furry children and my children's four-legged brothers.Upon Lady and Ian's death, there were many messages from those who, in eleven years of work, followed pet therapy courses with them;who considered them colleagues, therapists and friends.These messages warmed my heart because I understood how much Love has been given and received, that disinterested love which through relationships nourishes and allows us to live this life fully, even in its complexities.With infinite love and gratitude we will always carry them with us,” concludes Giovanna Monduzzi.

Animals and therapeutic techniques

It's not just dogs that are wonderful helpers for pet therapy.They are there too cats, rabbits, pigs, horses and the list could continue because every animal has so much to give us and each of them can represent a reason and a purpose to live better.“In over fifteen years of experience in the field we have developed an intervention protocol called Integrated relational pet therapy (Ptri), presented at theHigher Institute of Health in December 2008,” he says Margherita Carretti, naturalist and ethologist who also works in the group Ian was part of.“The theoretical assumptions on which it is based come from analytical psychology and are completed with a holistic conception of man and care, providing for integration between pet therapy/animal-assisted interventions and others co-therapies like theartistic expressiveness, themusical expressiveness, the psychomotricity, the mindfulness and the green therapies with the use of new technologies.Our approach gives great importance to the ethical and ethical vision not exploitation of the animal, highlighting the therapeutic value of the authentic relationship and the emotional states of all participants, human animals and non-human animals".

“In our four-legged team they are involved dogs of various breeds And mestizos with different life stories:some come from breeding farms, some from home litters and some from shelters or kennels.Involvement in Yay of dogs coming from kennels, shelters or who have histories of abandonment and mistreatment, is only possible following a rehabilitation and socialization process followed by competent veterinarians and dog trainers".

There is no such thing as a "pet therapy" dog

There Dr. Carretti he explains to me that there is no such thing as a "pet therapy" dog and everything depends on the predisposition and personality of the chosen subject which allows him to be calm and find pleasure in relating even with people he doesn't know and are not part of his family unit.With certain paths of education it is possible to increase a dog's skills and abilities for this type of intervention, but at the base there must be a great complicity and deep relationship with the assistant, i.e. the one who accompanies the animal in the session.“This is essential for the success of the intervention and to guarantee the well-being of the subject in the activity, and only by starting from a great mutual knowledge and listening ability can we ensure a respectful experience for everyone”, concludes the expert.

And I wonder, perhaps with the typical pride that always characterizes us who live with a dog, if Merlin, Czechoslovakian wolfdog One year old, hungry for life and love to give and receive, he would be a good pet therapy dog.Margherita says yes and I think she's right.He already does it for us and, in words, I couldn't describe the world of joy he can convey every day.But anyone who lives with an animal knows this very well…