Free services

The volunteer services are provided for free. Within 48 hours of being called in to provide assistance, the dogs are bathed and their nails are trimmed and polished. Insect repellent must also be used on the dogs frequently.

Volunteers introduce the dogs to patients. The animals then display their skills, which include doing "high fives" with their owners, putting their paws together to make a "thank you" gesture, and making a howling sound like a wolf.

Next, they cuddle up on patients' laps and allow them to feel the softness of their fur. This interactive session lasts an hour.

Patients at the Shanghai hospital included a Singaporean in his 50s with severe head and foot injuries received in a traffic accident in February.

He had a total of 10 fractured bones in the head, ribs and limbs. He also lost the hearing in one ear and could not close one eye.

The patient, who wished to be identified only as Andrew, said, "I have never believed in destiny, but after this accident, I spent a long time adjusting my mindset to take in what had happened."

He said he has a dog at home, but pets are not allowed in the hospital. Having been admitted for two months, he was badly missing his pet.

"When I heard the therapy dogs were coming to the hospital, I told the doctor that I had to see them, as I needed to be healed mentally," Andrew said, sitting in a wheelchair while feeling the dogs' soft coats.

"I don't think I had smiled for a long time — until today. I need to stay in hospital for another two months, so I hope the dogs will return soon," he added.

Beneficial effect

In 2006, an article in the Chinese Mental Health Journal said many international studies showed that animal therapy has a beneficial effect in treating conditions such as depression, anxiety, behavioral disorders and Alzheimer's disease.

In 2018, a study by researchers from the School of Medicine at University of California, Irvine found that therapy dogs are effective in reducing symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, in children.

The research results indicated that children with ADHD who received canine-assisted intervention experienced improved social skills and reduced levels of inattention.