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First therapy dog in the Belarusian Orthodox Church
A dog has been officially enrolled in the Synodal Department for Church Charity and Social Service of the Belarusian Orthodox Church. The Belarus 1 TV channel ran a story about the dog, his responsibilities and the way he can help adults and children.
The first therapy dog of the Belarusian Orthodox Church is called Hector. The cute golden retriever has a veterinary passport and a pedigree certificate. He also his own workplace, a bedding and a bowl.
“He does not need to be baptized. He is a creation of God, so there is no such need. He doesn't need to wear a cross either," said Priest Roman Artemov, chairman of the Synodal Department for Church Charity and Social Service of the Belarusian Orthodox Church. “He lives in my family as a therapy dog. It is not a medical program because I have no medical education. Accordingly, we cannot run rehabilitation or habilitation programs. We can offer an emotional support program as I have a psychological education.
By the way, canine therapy (the new program in the social service of the church) is not an amateur activity. Father Roman Artemov received the appropriate education. He completed two stages of education in Russia, then in the UK. He studied online, since the priest cannot afford to leave for a long time.
“For the dog to become a professional, he needs to go through a certification process, which, unfortunately, we do not have in our country at the moment. Now we are working to make it happen. For example, there is certification in the Russian Federation. There is certification in neighboring countries, but they are meant for the internal needs.
General rules envisage grooming, washing, and sanitizing the dog before every visit. It is also necessary to discuss what the meeting space will be like, how many people will come, and whether they have any allergies or phobias. The tandem arrives at the location in advance so that the dog can get used to it. The meeting lasts for about 30 minutes, and there can be 3 or 4 meetings a day. Then the dog needs to rest for a couple of days. Hector is a beginning “therapist”, that is why his schedule is light: one visit per week.
Such visits are free of charge. The project is charitable and does not necessitate either fees or donations.
Many people, especially those who have been ill for a long time, are financially exhausted and cannot afford therapy dog visits to get some exercise or reduce stress and anxiety. Such service is usually expensive.
Therapy dog sessions are an increasingly popular service today. The priest, who has been serving in children's hospice, cancer and palliative centers for many years, confirms it. Both the children fighting a serious illness and their parents need emotional support. It would be great if Father Roman and Hector could inspire other priests and lay people to join the campaign.
Hector has his own TikTok account. Only a few videos have been posted so far, but it already has over 500 followers. The first video gained almost 26,000 views, and most of the comments were positive. The account is run by the youth brotherhood of St. John the Evangelist of the Minsk diocese where Father Roman serves. The TikTok account provides reels about the golden retriever and information about canine therapy in general.
Based on the video by Belarus 1
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