Behind the Scenes: A Little Pet Therapy for Breast Cancer Patients
The Unexpected ‘Tail’ of Four Dogs and a Ballerina
Bob never knows what to expect when he sets out to shoot one of his famous “Ballerina” self-portraits. It was a snowy day, and he was excited to get a shot with snow on the bare trees of Central Park. That was all he had in mind.
We scouted Central Park at a few locations, decided on a spot and thought we had a perfect shot. Good thing too, because the wind made the temperature feel much lower than it was. Bob’s toes had had enough. Suddenly, Bob turned around, and four beautiful “ladies” were walking towards him. I saw him smile and knew we were staying longer.
Bob, approached their “dad” and explained that he was shooting half-naked for our breast cancer foundation. Would he let us use his “girls” in the shoot? We got a resounding yes! Now, thanks to these amazing Labradoodles, we bring you “Four Dogs.” It’s amazing that we can use these beautiful pets to bring the breast cancer community another smile, and hopefully an escape from the sadness.
Benefits of Pet Therapy
It’s well-known (and scientifically proven) that interaction with a gentle, friendly pet has significant health benefits. Here are some of the more common benefits of pet therapy for mental health:
- lifts spirits and lessens depression
- decreases feelings of isolation and alienation
- encourages communication
- provides comfort
- increases socialization and sense of community
- reduces boredom
- decreases anxiety
- helps children overcome speech and emotional disorders
- creates motivation for the client to recover faster
- reduces loneliness
We hope that this new photograph and the Behind the Scenes view of the creation of ‘Four Dogs’ has provided some of these benefits for you! We are not only here to raise funds for breast cancer patients but to also help lighten the darkness when things get tough.
Stay strong, stay healthy and let us know how this image made you feel!
Originally published at The Tutu Project.
