The wonders of pets

Alicia Boisson
South Peace News

Although it has only been operating for just over two months, one of the youth has found the program to be very helpful. Lisa, name changed because of the Youth Protection Act, has started volunteering with Prairie Animal Rescue Society when she can, since she started using the program. “The therapy has helped me with a lot of different stuff, and because of it I think the staff has been able to learn a lot more about me. The program really shows who I am and that I really care about the animals,” says Lisa. The program was introduced by LeeAnn Fjeld, the medical social worker at the High Prairie Health Complex, in early November as an attempt to encourage the youth at the centre to open up. Lisa, who has three to four months left in the centre, says at first she was leery about the program. “At first I wasn’t sure if I wanted to take part in the program because I didn’t know if it would work,” says Lisa, adding she had never heard of anything like it before. “But then I decided it would probably be good for me to try it out and see what happened and now I am glad I did.” Volunteering for PARS isn’t Lisa’s first time getting involved with a society. She says when she lived in another town she used to volunteer at an animal centre. “I think the program is awesome. I love the animals and I enjoy volunteering with PARS.” Fjeld, who is also the vice-president for PARS, says Lisa helps to walk the dogs and feeds them. She adds the program has been a success for all the youth who have taken part in it. “When I see how the kids interact it makes me very proud of the program and the kids,” says Fjeld. “For instance, I have seen a major improvement in one of the youth who wasn’t very interested in the dogs, and now he plays with them and takes them out for a bathroom break.” Every Tuesday Fjeld brings a few dogs to the YAC and the youth spend about an hour or so with the animals. “I am really happy YAC has allowed this program to come. The kids were timid at first but now they are opening up,” says Fjeld, adding she hopes the program can eliminate stereotypes about YAC. “People in the community think that these kids are all bad, but they aren’t. They just have troubled pasts and they need the guidance to improve their lives. If the community could see how the kids react to these animals it would get rid of the stigma.”

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