Meet Zana the Amputee Therapy Dog
Zana is a 6 year old Belgian Shepherd and is an amputee. On New Years Eve 2009 Zana was spooked by fireworks and ran onto the road, sadly she was hit by a car and as a result has lost her rear left leg and tail.
Her owner, Creese Syred, who is a highly regarded dog handler recognised a unique opportunity for Zana to work in the community and has offered her services as a therapy dog to the Amputee Association of NSW.
For many years now it has been recognised that animals can provide humans with a unique form of therapy and can aid in the recovery of patients suffering from illness or post surgery. They don't discriminate, don't care what we look like or if we are in a wheelchair or have a missing limb, humans are just fun to smell and be around and are great for offering love and attention.
Zana is available to visit patients in hospitals and rehabilitation centres, for more information about this service please contact us by phone or email.
If you would like to read about another dog that has successfully been used as an amputee therapy dog follow this link:
Peer Support Program
Our network of trained peer support volunteers are available to visit patients in hospital who have recently undergone amputation or are facing the prospect of amputation. If you are a health care worker, patient or family member who would like to request a peer support visit please refer to this page to learn more.
If you are interested in becoming a peer support volunteer please contact us to learn more about our training program times and venues.
The loss of a limb regardless of the reason will lead to a number of physical and emotional challenges for the new amputee and their loved ones. At this time the support and assistance of family, friends and health care professionals are all important aspects of the recovery and rehabilitation process, however speaking to another amputee who understands what it is like to go through the experience of limb loss can often have a very positive outcome in assisting the new amputee to see that there is life after amputation and that most challenges will be overcome. Often the person may feel more comfortable speaking to someone who has had a similar experience about personal issues and concerns that they may have knowing that they will understand how they are feeling and what they are going through.
Our peer support program has been established to allow amputees to meet with a trained volunteer who is willing to give their time, share their own experience and to listen to the fears and concerns of the new amputee in a confidential discussion. We are often told by amputees that have had a peer support visit that this was a very positive and rewarding experience and that it had helped greatly to openly discuss how they were feeling with someone who truly understands.
Peer support visits are carried out in hospital or rehabilitation centres. The request for a peer support visit should be made by a health care worker who is involved with the patient, ie a social worker, nurse, doctor or physiotherapist etc. Please note that consent from the patient must be given. If you are a patient or loved one you can make a request for a peer support visit by discussing this with the health care workers who are caring for you in the hospital or rehabilitation centre.
Peer support volunteers are individuals who are themselves amputees, or in some cases volunteers who are the loved ones of amputees and are able to help and support new amputees loved ones through this very difficult time. Our Peer Support Volunteers are assessed for suitability, undergo a police check and then take part in a training program to prepare them for their work as a peer support volunteer. Our training program ensures that individuals are aware of their responsibilities and obligations such as protecting confidentiality and are committed and capable of taking on this role. We do our best wherever possible to match the new amputee (and/or their family) with a peer support volunteer according to criteria such as age, gender, reason for amputation and site of amputation.
Each peer support visit will be different. The new amputee should be given the opportunity to see the peer support visitor in private or with family and friends present if they desire. The types of issues discussed will depend very much on the individual amputee as we do not go along with a list of predetermined questions or information. We want the new amputee to have the opportunity to take the lead on what they would like to ask and discuss. Some amputees are happy with just one peer support visit, others may want to see a peer support visitor a number of times.
You can request a peer support visit by completing the online form which will be sent to us by email or by printing and faxing the PDF form on this page.
You can request more information by contacting us on 1800 810 969 or by email amputee@northcott.com.au