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Dreamcatcher Association uses animal-assisted therapy to help clients with a little help from their furry friends

By pairing clients with animals, registered psychologist Eileen Bona and the staff at Dreamcatcher Nature-Assisted Therapy Ltd., have helped dozens of people overcome developmental and social hurdles.
 

Most of the therapy animals at Dreamcatcher have had some kind of trauma or were donated from local residents.
 

"We could go buy animals if we wanted," says Bona. "We could buy the perfect animal that's going to be the perfect therapy animal but we believe there is a whole population of animals out there that need a home."

 

Zach Wilm was Bona's first client and first success story. Suffering from autism and seizures since he was an infant, Wilm has made great progress through bonding with a horse named Rain.

 

HATRED FOR NONE — Calgary Muslim community are spreading the "True peaceful message of the Prophet." 

Ahmadi Muslims are teaching the public not to fear words like Muhammad, Islam and Jihad. While extremists claim to act in the name of Islam, the Ahmadiyya Community call them criminals and murders. 

 

"Jihad means 'struggle' – the internal struggle," says Imams Umair Khan of the Baitunnur Mosque in Calgary, Alberta. 

Calgary has over a dozen Mosques, seven of which are chapters of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. The Ahmadi Muslims say that the values of Islam are in tune with Canadian values like family and peace.

 

Members of the Ahmadiyya Youth Association face the challenges of living their lives according to the peaceful teachings of the Prophet Muhammad in a world that may not understand them. 

 

ALBERTA SENIOR CARE — Home and long-term care in Calgary

Debbie Franchuck is a registered nurse and the Director of Senior Care at Home Instead, a privately run and funded company that provides care to seniors wherever they live.

 

Franchuck says that giving Albertans choices for their home care needs would go a long way to improving the system. 

 

"I hear the concerns from the families who call us saying there just doesnt seem to be enough hands and feet in the building," says Franchuck.

 

One option for seniors is called self-managed care, where clients apply for funding and can choose how their health care dollars are spent. 

 

Home Instead also works alongside the staff of assisted living centers, providing care to patients who need assistance.

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