Pets can be amazing therapy!

By Suzanne Holman • May 19th, 2010

Pets can be amazing therapy for all of us, whether we are in a care center or just living the ups and downs of life. Today was my rescue Shih Tzu’s first grooming appointment.

He had a history of neglect and who knows what else.

He likes to hide in safe little corners.

We’ve been taking everything one step at a time …to help him realize the world is a wonderful place – daily walks, dog park, pet stores.

Shaiming is learning to love walking around my neighborhood lake in Phoenix – some days – and sometimes just doesn’t want to keep walking!
I read a bit about the breed and although they need the exercise, they could easily opt out if they have a choice!

It’s quite a socialization process for him to get used to many activities that he must not have had in his previous home.

I took him yesterday to meet the groomer and see how he reacted to the environment. He seemed to like it and she was amazingly loving to him. She put him on the table and just brushed him a little – a little like when you take a child to the dentist for their initial visit and just sit in the chair to get familiar with a different kind of place.

I’ll post his after photo…it will take a while for him to recover from the “mercy groom” they had to give him at the Humane Society to remove all his uncared for Shih Tzu coat.

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