Creative Expression and Animal-Assisted Therapy Initiative: With
Camphill Village, West Coast
And Claire Mobey
We are all connected in some way, and when we forget that, we feel most alone. The incredible volunteers at Dassenberg Horse and Dog Rescue are on a mission to change how we perceive NGO’s, Volunteer Work, Community Upliftment, Animal Rescue, and most importantly, how each and every person and animal has a place in this world and the potential to change lives.
In collaboration with Camphill Village (Resident Facility for Adults With Intellectual Disabilities), Dassenberg Horse and Dog Rescue Centre is developing a program that combines art, music, and animal-assisted therapy-based activities
to uplift those most in need.
The horses and dogs on the farm are much like the visitors who come through for some healing and love. Both have travelled tough roads, faced rejection and heartache but also still harness incredible hope for the future. It is absolutely beautiful to watch people and animals connect so deeply and in such a symbiotic way, with the healing going both ways.
The Dassenberg Horse and Dog Rescue Centre currently facilitates the rescue, rehabilitation, housing, feeding, and veterinary care of a variety of animals, (including some geese that I spent my first visit running away from!).
Horse Therapy Video
The horses, all with different backstories, provide an incredible bonding experience that I don’t think is possible with any other animal. Perhaps it's their grace, their intuition, their size (which can actually be really comforting if you’re lucky enough to get a proper cuddle in), or their patience and gentle instincts. Whatever it is, there is no denying that a certain kind of magic happens when you spend some time with these majestic creatures. From brushing their manes and coats to feeding them treats, the process is very interactive. Visitors also get the opportunity to lead the horses around the farm. There is definitely a tangible positive psychological effect for both the horses and their human visitor and it is truly beautiful to see this healing in action.
Visiting the dogs was tough because I wanted to take them all home with me! The facility is filling up though and with so many of these beautiful creatures needing love, food, and healthcare, we are appealing to you to consider adoption or donations to assist this incredible organisation in continuing their work and reaching as many people and animals in need as possible.
There are several rescue horses up for adoption and the idea behind them is to motivate prospective adopters to provide companionship for their own horses. These horses are looking for a place to rest and be loved. To be free from harm and safe and comfortable to live out their lives. Many of these horses are ex-race horses while others have been rescued from the surrounding community whose owners could no longer give them basic care.
The dogs were just so eager to please and each one we visited touched my heart. They do say there is no love purer than that of a dog for its owner. It was incredibly hard not to try to sneak one or two home! Who knows, maybe I will someday soon! From puppies to full-grown dogs with incredibly gentle temperaments, there is certainly a wide variety: a dog to suit everyone.
On This incredibly special day, I personally got to share in the animal-assisted therapy, getting lots of love, hugs, and licks from the dogs and horses alike!
Once everyone decided it was time to have a rest, we moved through into the arts and crafts room where visitors from Camphill Village were encouraged to express their feelings about their experience with the animals that day through creative expression, led by volunteer; Lee Gallagher..
While everyone was busy with their love-filled masterpieces, I was able to share a little music with everyone and even got everyone to sing along in the end!
Music Therapy
Special thanks to Camphill Village as well as Dassenberg Volunteers, Loz, Caitlin and
Dalene.
I felt like we all walked away with bigger smiles, warmed hearts and a feeling of being truly touched by this incredibly special morning. I am very much looking forward to joining in again soon!
Please click on the hyperlinks to take you directly to each organisation’s website where you can find out more about how you can make a difference.
Camphill Village (Resident Facility for Adults With Intellectual Disabilities), Dassenberg Horse and Dog Rescue Centre (committed to the rescue of animals in need and developing a program that combines art, music, and animal-assisted therapy-based activities to benefit a wide range of visitors from children to adults in need).
