Doctor White

Doctor White — page 1
DEDICATION This book is dedicated to the little dog who helped so many children when they were sick and to all the other dogs of the world who share their lives and hearts with those of us who reach out to them AUTHOR’S NOTE This book is based on a true story about a little white dog who was adopted by a children’s hospital in London and whose love and affection for the young patients there helped in their recoveries The events in this story took place long ago Since then animals are increasingly used in this manner but of course under far more stringent guidelines that include sanitary precautions and extensive training and supervision of service dogs This use of animals is just one aspect of what is known as pet-assisted therapy which grew out of research into the bond between animals and humans As a result of this research it was discovered that the love and companionship of animals can significantly contribute to sick people’s recovery and rehabilitation Pet-assisted therapy encompasses more than helping critically ill children Many dedicated individuals and organizations around the world are using this animal-human bond for a wide range of problems including work with the elderly the disabled the mentally ill and studies continue to be done on the general health benefits that pets can offer humans When I learned about Dr White and the comfort he gave to countless suffering children I thought his story would be a wonderful one to share