Contents
Sick children: animals at Dijon University Hospital
Hamsters, chinchillas, guinea pigs… Twice a week, a strange menagerie arrives at Dijon University Hospital. For the greater benefit of hospitalized children. Report in a zootherapy workshop.
Tuesday, 9 p.m. On the 4th floor of the hospital, in the hallway of the pediatric oncology department, Idrice carefully pushes a mysterious cart covered in a white sheet. Direction, the library. Once inside, he can finally lift the veil on his precious cargo. In their cages, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, dwarf rabbits and chinchillas are already shivering at the thought of stretching their legs. But the so-called “animal mediator” here is not over. Idrice has yet to prepare some sort of playground on a table that sits in the middle of the room. And unpack colorful tubes and ladders, vegetables and pellets, brushes and combs of all kinds… In the end, it’s a happy bric-a-brac.
Zootherapy, a unique concept in France
9:20 a.m .: Hugo, 7, makes his debut. Equipped with the regulatory outfit, overcoat, charlotte on the head and disposable slippers on the feet, the little patient takes a quick glance in the room before pointing to the baby chinchilla: “I would like to take care of this one. there, ”he blurted out in a decided tone. At first, Hugo is rather surprised by the softness of the animal’s fur, but very quickly, he takes a liking to it and runs his hand for a long time on the back of the animal. That’s it, contact is established. Confidently, the little boy then embarks on the construction of a “special rodent” amusement park. Under his skillful fingers, the accordion tube quickly turns into a tunnel, the scales overlap like a scholar Mikado, a “dance” floor is set up… All smiles, Hugo now watches his baby chinchilla overcome obstacles un has a. He forgot for a moment the illness and its procession of bites. In a corner of the room, installed on an easel, a panel sums up this shock treatment very well: “Zouzouthérapie”. Either a good dose of good humor and as much tenderness. At Dijon University Hospital, these zootherapy sessions have existed since September 2011. For now, this is a unique initiative in France. And to hear its promoters, it is a formidable therapeutic tool.
Forget the disease thanks to the animal
little sick
If pet therapy does not cure, it gives these children a little joy in life
it is a way of regaining power: this time, it is he who takes care of another living being
The whole family is invited
And for the siblings, it is an opportunity to play together, to share special moments with this brother or sister, because in the hospital, they often feel excluded.
Pet therapy, a therapy still too rare in France
the doctor regrets that this program, which is very successful abroad, has difficulty in establishing itself in French pediatric services
Thanks to this device, the Dijon University Hospital can offer a few hours a week a little comfort to sick children and their families.