Exotic therapy animals

[Wolf3101]

Well I've only worked with therapy animals in hospitals for slightly over 25 years so I probubly don't know what I'm talking about.....BUT a large part of the certifycation process has to do with testable behavure and temporment...something thats not possible with herps.

A dog is a domestacated animal rather than a wild animal kept in captivity. I have in fact taken a couple of my snakes...by request to educational talks at schools but hospitals and nursing homes need an established...test-able certifycation process to even concider an animal for servace. That simply dosn't exist for herps.

The article in question needs to be looked at VERY carefully because it was no doubt a very special case. In fact MOST people would react negitvly to the expierance of having a snake of lizard visit them.

Even with the therapy dogs we are careful to concider the breeds with some patiants.

 

[davo]

Even without the health side of it, and the personality tests they'd tend to fail, I don't think they are a suitable animal at all. I'll admit someone bringing around a python when I was ill would brighten my day if I was ill, but I'm not 99% of the population.
If you want a pet or something to make you smile and interact etc. a dog or a cat or something is best bet. Even a parrot would do better in this instance, but not sure if they'd pass the health checks.

 

[loconorc]

I got a few questions though... Do the patients/old people or whoever know beforehand? Im sure youd have to make sure they wont freak out beforehand... Im sure some of you know what happened to the albino burm earlier this year. A little kid killed it on the spot because he 'hates snakes'.

Second, what kind of test? I was watching something related to this on animal planet (they were doing parrots at the time) and they had the keeper and the animal in a busy hallway with lots of noises, activity, strangers, etc. Is this the 'test'. Most herps would pass easily I would think. Heck, half of 'em are deaf anyway. And my herps have been to school with me multiple times and are fine for over half an hour, Ive only had the snake hiss once, and it was at me 'cause I almost tripped.

A tegu, for example, would probably sit there and flick his tongue and take a nap in any situation LOL

 

[Wolf3101]

Yes the people are informed ahead of time and given a choice. The animals have to be able to walk through the facillity however to get to either the room or hall where the visit's set up. The tests amount to the animal NOT reacting to situations that would NORMALLY provoke a responce. Pulling tails...loud noises...Simulated attacks. that sort of thing.

The other part of the testing thats importiant is that the facillity RECOGNIZSES it as valad. Without that...even the best behavure is worthless. In other words they want a piece of paper that states...basicly...

Our organization guarntees this animal to be safe, healthy, and well behaved.

How would you like to put yourself in that possition with other peoples animals? TDI and other organizations have worked for a LOT of years earning the trust of the facillities and insurance companies. It only takes a SINGLE misunderstanding...or problem to bring that down. You can lose your certification for a short growl or a hard look even if a cart runs over your dogs paw...

 

[loconorc]

Ahhh I see.... Wow I didnt know its so strict that like! I think a tegu or something could still pass the test with a little work handled from a young age easily, but even a little hiss can throw the whole thing off even if its not your fault? Ouch... So if a little girl literally yanks off a lizards tail and gets bitten its my fault? .... Actually a little 3 year old stood on my beardies tail and he didnt do anything and was fine, but thats beside the point lol

 

[tunerX]

if i was on my death bed,bring in a few kamodo dragons and turn them loose on me.Get it over with.If i was just bad sick,i think a tortoise or turtle.When you dont feel good and dont know herps well any fast or jerky movements may stress you out.I bet you could bring me out of a coma if you brought me a crock or a cobra and said i could keep it

Don't komodo dragons bite you with their bacteria filled mouths and cause you to rot, get a fever, then go into convulsions?

 

[tunerX]

You might want to find out whether a person is afraid of the animal. My mother would have a heart attack if you showed her a snake.

 

[Kioka]

Don't komodo dragons bite you with their bacteria filled mouths and cause you to rot, get a fever, then go into convulsions?

Assisted suicide.

 

[jason longboard]

Assisted suicide.

right!but i was hoping for more of a starving group that would eat me up than the rot to death part.Maybe these guysby the way check this dude out,he looks calm enough for the visits!I still think a tortoise would be the only trustworthy herp,only thing is its not like it likes to be held and are you just gonna sit it up on the bed?Other than that,i really think it would have to be a herp person in the first place.

 

[jason longboard]

i forgot the pic of the lazy one,sorry.