With the Connessioni project, the Order of Veterinary Doctors of the province of Matera has won the ninth edition of the Il peso delle cose award, established by the National Federation of Orders of Veterinary Doctors (Fnovi) to recognize the work of those who “have practiced best fulfill their responsibilities in the public sector, in the private sector and in training, in managerial activity”, carrying out actions “which have benefited the professional community or society in the broad sense” or which “with their behavior have been of example for the profession or for society”.
Recognition to the veterinarians of Matera for the Connessioni project
The recognition, awarded during the Fnovi National Council which just ended in Rome, was given to veterinary doctors from Basilicata for the pet therapy activity carried out as part of the Connessioni – Assisted Interventions with Animals project carried out together with the guests of the Integrated Center multipurpose hospital in Serra Rifusa, in collaboration with the Mental Health Department of the local health authority.
The project involved an assisted education course with animals conducted by a team made up of a professional educator, two veterinarians expert in assisted interventions with animals and two dog assistants (one of whom qualified as a dog instructor and the other a psychologist and psychotherapist).
Objective: to set up an experiential laboratory, to allow the development of a deep relationship between the dog and the children involved, opening them up to new emotional skills.
Pet therapy is one of the many faces of one health
The proposed activities – various workshops on the relationship between man, animals and nature: in a full vision of one health – were personalized on the characteristics of the individual patient/group and enhanced thanks to the interaction between the medical world and veterinary skills.
“Through playing and taking care of the animal – he says Filomena Montemurropresident of the Order of Veterinary Doctors of the City of Sassi – important relational moments were created which stimulated the individual, strengthening his emotional bond and interpersonal relationships”.
His deputy adds, Felice Lisanti: “The Connessioni project proved to be an important opportunity for learning and educational experimentation in which autonomy and guidance were the fulcrum of the educators’ intervention, in which the relational and emotional dimension was amplified and underlined”.
“The recipients of this trip experienced experiences that were both new and educational – he concludes Gaetano Penocchio, president of Fnovi -. Sharing experiences gives wealth, leads to questioning and learning to think about others too”.
