Pit bull approaches boy with cancer — proves why he was nominated for Therapy Dog of the Year
If you go by the stereotype, then many pit bulls are aggressive and vicious dogs. People don’t know how far from the truth that is. The reality is that pit bulls can be some of the most loving and caring dogs around.
Take Aladdin for example … despite his breed’s reputation, he has been making a name for himself as a therapy dog.
A young boy in need
While Aladdin has always been a bright and rising star in the field of therapy dogs, his most memorable interaction was with a young cancer patient. His owner, Michele Schaffer, had taken him to meet some children in California.
As he was being petted, Aladdin saw a young boy with brain cancer and ran over to comfort him. It seems Aladdin has a knack for knowing exactly who needs his help.
Aladdin didn’t have a great start to life
Maybe this is because Aladdin did not have such a great start to life. Before he went to the Camden County Animal Shelter, he was found starving and with all of his legs broken. Also, his tail had been broken in multiple places and he was missing 12 teeth. That was when he met Shaffer.
Aladdin becomes a finalist for the Therapy Dog of the Year award
Shaffer worked with the poor, abused dog, and always admired the positive attitude he showed regardless of the situation he was in. That was when she knew he would be perfect as a therapy dog. Within eight months of meeting Schaffer, he had earned a certification as a therapy dog.
Then, in 2017, Aladdin was nominated for the Therapy Dog of the Year award from the American Humane Society Hero Dog Awards. And while Aladdin didn’t ultimately win, it did show how dedicated he was to helping others cope with their stress, pain, and depression.
For more about Aladdin and his work with the community, visit his Facebook page.
The role of therapy dogs
Therapy dogs, like Aladdin, are required to have a patient and friendly temperament. This allows them to more easily interact with the patients they serve. The goal of therapy dogs is to help relieve the stress and depression that the person they are working with might be feeling due to some type of past or current trauma or emotional loss.
Therapy dogs are especially useful when working with military veterans, the elderly, and children, though they are capable of helping people from all walks of life. The way a therapy dog works is by coming into close contact with people, letting them pet, snuggle, and play with them — the goal is to take their minds off of their problems.
When it comes to Aladdin, it seems he has the knack of knowing just who needs his help at any given time. For more on this special dog, watch the video below.
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