In Santiago, Chile, dogs are being used to help children relax during dental treatment. The Labrador retriever therapy dog, Zucca, recently helped Mateo, a boy with autism, remain calm during surgery.
Zucca is owned by Raul Valera who directs the non-profit organization, Junto A Ti—meaning “next to you” in Spanish. Valera said that parents have responded with positive feedback to the use of the dogs. Many doctors, who were originally resistant to the idea, have seen its benefits over treating a child with general anesthesia.
