SHANGHAI — As you enjoy the companionship of your pets at home, have you ever thought about the more meaningful things they can do?

Wu Qi, a pet trainer in his 30s, has demonstrated their immense potential, as his team has trained over 300 dogs, most of them pets, to help people in need.

On a recent day at a support center for elderly people with cognitive disorders in Shanghai's Fengxian district, seniors warmly greeted the adorable therapy dogs upon their arrival.

Assisted by dedicated volunteers, the dogs participated in a range of interaction and activity-based rehabilitation training.

These sessions included exercises tailored to aid in muscle recovery and enhance communication skills and self-expression among the elderly.

The participants experienced the gentle affection of the dogs, embracing some, while others rested their little heads on the seniors' palms.

"My fear of dogs has all gone. They are so cute. I've just petted and caressed a white puppy, and it even allows me to hug it," said Qi Yinfang, a 67-year-old patient suffering from mild cognitive impairment.

The introduction of animal-assisted therapy services by Wu's team has had a profound impact on the seniors, lifting the spirits of people like Qi, according to the support center.

Autistic children, seniors with cognitive disorders, people with disabilities and those with mental health disorders are all target clients of the therapy dog team.

Since Wu began the program "Paws For Heal" in 2012, similar services have benefited nearly 100,000 people in major cities such as Shanghai, Beijing and Nanjing, Jiangsu province.

Animal-assisted therapy is nothing new overseas.

According to a market survey conducted by Wu's team in 2018, there were already over 50,000 therapy dogs in the United States alone. This kind of therapy was still in its infancy in China at that time, and Wu only had 20 professionally trained therapy dogs at his base.

Therefore, he decided to train pets to help more people in need instead of relying on existing professional therapy dogs.

According to a report on China's booming pet industry released by the China Pet Industry Association and Beijing Pethadoop Technology in February, last year alone, urbanites had more than 50 million pet dogs.

"I hope to reach out to the vast population of pet owners and encourage them to participate in our initiative. Their pet dogs have immense potential in making a difference and helping others," Wu said.

His team has now prepared a set of comprehensive training courses designed to enhance the pets' sociability, obedience and interactive skills, while also mitigating potential overreactions.

Many pet owners are willing to extend a helping hand, or more accurately their pets' paws, to assist those in need.

Jin Pei, a 75-year-old grandmother from Shanghai, is among the generous pet lovers. Her dog Biubiu is now a frequent visitor to local nursing institutions for the elderly, rehabilitation organizations for children with developmental disabilities, and hospitals.

"On Christmas night, I welcomed Biubiu, a stray dog, into my home, and since then, she has become an integral part of my family. The dog healed me with its companionship and support, and so I would like her to become a therapy dog and cure more people," Jin said.

Xinhua