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Janet Marich
Munster, IN
Janet Marich, 55, who was diagnosed with MS in 1991, lived with MS for years before she told anyone beyond family and close friends about her disease. The sudden death of her husband in 2000 made her realize that she needed support from others. She also felt a desire to help fellow community members with MS.
The idea for an animal-assisted therapy program came naturally to Janet. In her professional career with a local mental health organization, she managed an animal-assisted therapy program to help children with emotional disorders and other at-risk youth. In 2001, Janet received the Tipper Gore Remember the Children Volunteer Award from the National Mental Health Association for her dedication to this and other programs benefiting children and families.
Janet’s worsening MS symptoms forced an early retirement from her job in 2003. She made accommodations such as moving to a house on one level, pacing her activities and getting adequate rest to help manage her fatigue, cognitive issues, headaches and walking problems. “I had to try very hard to be aware of my limitations, yet not let them get in the way of living a productive life,” recalls Janet.
With time on her hands and a determination to continue contributing in a meaningful way, Janet applied for a Betaseron® Champions of Courage grant to organize an animal-assisted therapy program for people with MS. She was notified in April 2004 that her proposal was chosen for funding. Power Paws for MS launches in August 2004 in Northwest Indiana and Chicago.
More than a visitation program, Power Paws for MS is a goal-directed intervention, designed to promote improvement in physical, social, emotional and cognitive functioning. Individuals with MS are matched with qualified volunteer/dog teams for weekly therapy. Activities vary depending on individual needs, but may include brushing the dog, walking the dog, teaching the animal tricks and playing games like “catch.” For example, teaching dogs agility skills such as jumping through a hoop or running through a tunnel using one-word commands is not only gratifying, but can also improve memory, concentration, confidence and self-esteem. All volunteer handler and animal teams complete extensive training and pass a skills and aptitude evaluation.
“I believe Power Paws for MS will be especially effective in addressing self-esteem, socialization skills, anxiety, depression, anger and trust and loss issues,” says Janet. “Volunteers and their dogs make people feel safe, loved and worthwhile. And they develop a lasting bond with program participants – the volunteers and dogs get as much out of the experience as do the clients!”
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