SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On Oct. 20, 2015, the Director of the Veterans Affairs, Caribbean Healthcare System, Mr. DeWayne Hamlin, welcomed volunteer Dr. Mariane Cott, from the “Centro de Desarrollo Psico-Organizacional y Psicoeducativo (Cedepp),” and PetSmart Puerto Rico General Director, Mr. Julio Reyes.
Hamlin and Reyes experienced first-hand how Pet Therapy is conducted and the benefits to treating different conditions affecting Veterans.
These conditions may range from physical to emotional. Dr. Cott, volunteers every Tuesday to visit various clinics at the San VA Medical Center to bring happiness to Veterans in need, for example, the Day Hospital, the Community living center among others.
According to Dr. Cott, “This program becomes the first and unique primary resource between Human Animal Bond and Animal Assisted Interventions, which will be a big contribution for our society and many professional settings.
An animal assisted intervention brings positive behavioral support intervention for children, adolescents, young adults, adults, elderly people and our veterans with severe emotional or behavioral problems, psychological and physiological support for the critically ill, elderly, physically impaired and others.”
After the visit, Dr. Cott was surprised by Reyes after being presented with a five thousand dollar grant from PetSmart so she can continue assisting our Veterans through her Volunteer Services.