Canine Companions for Communication by Andie

Canine Companions for Communication by Andie - June 2020 Scholarship Essay

A primary life goal of mine that runs tangentially to my career as a future Speech-Language Pathologist has been the desire to raise and train therapy dogs. I have always had a strong affinity for animals, particularly dogs, and I have experienced firsthand the immense improvements that their presence can have in an individual’s life. When I was ten years old, my father lost his fight with brain cancer. My family adopted our dog, Kenzie, three months after his death, and I found in her a healing companionship that enabled me to process my grief and move forward with my childhood. To this day, Kenzie provides comfort for my distress in a way that no other being has been able to. Since she became a part of our family, I have been developing plans to incorporate animal companionship into my future career and lifestyle for the benefit of my clients.
As I begin my studies in Speech-Language Pathology, I hope to explore the idea of opening a clinical practice that involves therapy dogs as part of the Speech Therapy experience. There is no easier creature to talk to than one who listens attentively, holds no judgement, and loves unconditionally. For a child who struggles with a speech or communication disorder, being able to practice articulation and overcome other obstacles (i.e. making eye contact, mimicking communication signals, and even staying motivated throughout a session) with this kind of support from a non-judgmental animal may be the key that opens the door to speaking assuredly in future interactions with others. It has been shown repeatedly across the US and Canada that children who come into animal shelters and read to the dogs cultivate their sense of empathy and confidence with reading and speaking skills, not to mention the benefits of reducing the dogs’ anxiety and increasing their adoption rates. Animal-assisted speech therapy has not been instituted on such a wide scale, but preliminary experiments and analysis show marked improvements in short-term and long-term communication goals. I am eager to become an SLP and expand on this body of research while doing the best possible work with my clients.
At the heart of my chosen field is a hunger for connection. We are a social species, and we rely on each other to find and create meaning in our lives. If my Canine Companion and I were only able to help one person develop the tools they require to bridge the gap and connect with others, I would know that my job was worth every minute of effort and training that it took to reach that position.