| EDUCATION Doctor of Clinical Hypnotherapy American Institute of Hypnotherapy Irvine, CA B.A. Psychology University of California Irvine Irvine, CA |
"Today is a gift. What will you do with the present?"
| DR. SHANNON DOMINGUEZ, DCH |
Dr. Shannon Dominguez is the Director of the Pet Therapy and Animal Education program for the Haku Baldwin Center in Maui, Hawaii, USA.
Considered an expert in her field, she specializes in the training and use of dogs and small animals (rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens and ducks) for pet therapy, animal-assisted therapy, animal-assisted activities and social therapy. She began her AAT/Animal Education career in 2001 as a volunteer for the Maui Animal Aloha Center's Animal Education program where she began formally researching and publishing the benefits of AAT in the clinical environment.
In addition to visiting up to 800 patients in Maui's care facilities each month, she offers classes in humane animal education at the Center. The love for her work inspired the creations of FriendlyTails.net and Maui Pet Therapy, on MySpace.com to attract more attention to the field of Animal-Assisted Therapy and recruit volunteers, interns and donations for the Haku Baldwin Center (a non-profit organization).
Dr. Dominguez holds a Doctorate degree in Clinical Hypnotherapy (specializing in medical hypnosis by physician referral) and maintains an active private practice in hypnosis that is completely separate from her full-time passion in the field of Animal-Assisted Therapy. No animals are used in the hypnosis session, nor does she hypnotize animals and patients when practicing AAT/AAA. Any people barking like dogs, clucking like chickens or making animal noises in her presence is completely coincidental.
Most often, there's some new fuzzy, feathered or furry animal living in her home that she's imprinting or working with for the program. When asked about it, she replied, "Yes, I do bring my work home with me (sometimes I keep them)! These special little beings touch lives in many miraculous ways and I'm so blessed to be a part of it all. I've loved animals for as long as I can remember. 
She has enjoyed the role as guardian (does not like the word owner) of dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, rats, parrot, exotic finches, canaries, cockatiels, snakes, lizards, horses, pony, turtles, goats, and tropical fish. Her love for animals blended with her therapeutic background made a natural transition for her career in the pet therapy field.
Dr. Dominguez publishes an online newsletter, "Friendly Tails® Newsletter - True Stories of Animals Helping People Heal"© (formerly Shannimal's Friendly Tails ©). Many of the stories are available here at FriendlyTails.net.
Dr. Dominguez is available for lectures, workshops, seminars, consulting, and continues researching and publishing her findings on the health benefits of human-animals interaction in various journals. She is presently spearheading a formal research study with her therapy animals making breakthroughs with brain-injured patients diagnosed as vegetative.
| The small animals utilized in her pet therapy program are primarily rescues. Animal rescue is very important to her, as she believes animals deserve a second chance. She adopts whenever possible from the Maui Humane Society and the Maui Animal Rescue and Sanctuary (MARS). |
Betty Blue (mare), Baby Blue (colt) and Gizmo with Dr. Shannon
Miniature Therapy Horse in Training.
