$238,099

HUGS ABOUND IN ANIMAL THERAPY: Nick Miller, The Age, 11/12/09

Jake checks out a guinea pig that is used as a form of therapy for traumatised children. Photo: Rebecca Hallas.

A YOUNG boy traumatised by domestic violence had shut down. He would not talk, trapped in his pain.

But after a day feeding and patting a guinea pig, he came home to his mother singing.

A young girl, scarred by her broken family, sat in an animal shelter with a kitten under each arm, and said quietly to them,
''It's all right, I don't have a home either.''

Anecdotes like this are common in the growing field of animal therapy.

But for the first time, a Melbourne researcher is running a study aimed at proving how ''animals as therapists'' help children recover from trauma.

Other groups use dogs and horses, but this particular group begins with guinea pigs: small, helpless and often terrified, they
are a canvas on to which children can project their own fears and begin to understand them.

''The children see the vulnerability of the smaller animal, how scared it is,'' said Dr Neerosh Mudaly of Monash University, who
will run the study. ''They learn how to make them feel safe, they cuddle up to them and they see the parallels with their own experience. It's quite amazing.''

The brains of traumatised children do not develop normally but become centred on fear and ''hyper-vigilance'', she said. That makes them less responsive to conventional talking therapies.

''New theories are exploring the idea that activity-based, non-verbal programs are more effective than using language.''

The animal therapy group has been running for several years, through family and youth support program WAYSS.

Case workers say they can see the results in the smiles and laughter of the children. They watch as a silent child, dwelling on
the past, can be nudged back to the present by the attention-seeking headbutt of a pet. But they want to turn these anecdotes
into scientific proof.

Dr Mudaly's two-year research will measure empathy, cognition and social interaction, to see how a range of trauma symptoms change through the program.

The research has been made possible by a $120,000 donation from PETstock Foundation, a charity established by a chain of
pet stores.

PETstock board member Andrew Darbyshire - a Melbourne businessman who came up with the idea of putting zoo animals and
an aquarium into the new Royal Children's Hospital - said he had always been fascinated by the synergy between children and animals.

''There's definitely a connection,'' he said. ''I felt it was important this research be done so it can be demonstrated in Australia
and the world.''

PETstock FOUNDATION BALL:

The PETstock Foundation inaugural Ball was held at the Melbourne Zoo on August 14th 2009 and raised in excess of $87,000.
Over 200 guests attended and it was a resounding success. At the ball presentations were made to Riding for the Disabled,
Wildlife Victoria and Zoos Victoria.

PETstock BUSHFIRE RELIEF:

PETstock is donating about $30,000 worth of emergency pet food, collars and leads in the wake of Victoria’s devastating
bushfires.

Australia’s largest pet specialty retailer is digging deep to help the RSPCA take care of the thousands of family pets left
homeless and now facing starvation in Australia’s worst-ever bushfire.

PETstock has combined forces with food and accessory suppliers to contribute vital dog, cat, horse and rabbit feed, along
with collars and leads, to the RSPCA’s emergency relief effort.

PETstock has also set up donation boxes in each of its 55+ stores across Australia for customers wanting to lend a helping
hand. All funds raised will go towards bushfire relief efforts for animals.

Several PETstock stores near the fire-ravaged areas are also doing their bit to help bushfire-affected customers.

PETstock Lilydale manager James Barnes said the fires came within three to four kilometres of the store.

Mr Barnes said PETstock Lilydale had rallied to provide emergency pet food for customers who have lost homes. The store is
also working closely with nearby not-for-profit animal welfare organisation Animal Aid to help feed animals affected by the
fires.

“It feels like almost every customer that comes in has been close to the fires or had their home destroyed,” Mr Barnes said.
“We want to help where we can.”

PETstock General Manager, David Young urged all Australians to support the bushfire victims, including the animals.
“Sometimes in a devastating crisis such as this, the animals and pets are forgotten about,” he said.
“PETstock wants to ensure we also help our beloved animal friends in these tragic times.”