About a year ago a young lady cat rescuer was alerted to a feral cat situation at Charleston Arbors in downtown Charleston, WV. It was during the trapping and relocating of the said ferals that our association deepened and she introduced me (Sheila), to a Facebook group chat later to be named 'Crazy Cat Ladies'.
I (Sheila), was witness to the countless saving of animal lives - cats and dogs, other animals as well. This group has it's heart in the right place. Though I didn't feel very welcomed - at first. I'm an outsider, not originally from this area - and a bit of a loner.
Several times I had reached out to this group for help, when Phoebe Peppercorn was ran over and needed medical attention this group and particularly one lady stepped up and donated a large amount to save Phoebe's leg, after a vehicle accident. Unfortunately her leg couldn't be saved and this lady again donated a large amount to help with the cost of amputating Phoebe's leg. The surgery was a success and Phoebe is laying beside me on her very own pillow, cleaning herself as I type this post. She is happy, she is safe, she is greatly loved.
Recently I posted a plea for help on feeding the colony and feline family that is Gargoyles Animal Rescue after our main sponsor suffered a stroke and we would not ask her for any more help. In the group is one lady who responded with an offer of food, she even brought it to us. When she arrived she was floored by our shear numbers. When she learned of our financial status and the amount of cats that hadn't been altered she went into action and started a fundraiser. She also set us up at her vet's for our littlest members who were suffering from suspected Upper Respiratory Infections.
That was last week and at last check the fundraiser was at almost $1,000.00, but we have more to raise as the surgery and care is expected to be closer to $2,000.00. We have 29 cats needing to be altered in their reproductive abilities; 14 females to be spayed and 15 males to be neutered. Plus rabies' shots, flea meds (vets around here insist on flea meds during this procedure), hazard waste fees, vetting of the sick babies, their meds, and care for the cats after their surgery.
Cats can get away from you in hot messy minute with breeding. The babies come, you try to get the momma fixed when you manage to pull enough funds to the side from feeding them and paying the bills to run the operation. Then when you make the appointment and gather your momma you realise she is pregnant again - and too far along, you are against ripping babies out of a momma's womb. So you get one of her daughters from a previous litter in her stead - at least you are stopping one more cat from reproducing. But there is that momma having another litter of kittens and then one of her daughters that you didn't spay is having her first litter... the vicious cycle goes on and on.
About 10 months ago there was a program for help with feral colonies in Kanawha County (where we reside), we reached out to them for our whole area, when we inquired about our status we were told we were on the list. Never heard another damn word. That is the way of things here. Felt like we were back in Georgia with the 'Good Ole' Boy System' and if don't know who's who then you just don't matter. Not like in Houston, TX where not only were there grants everywhere to address feral and stray cats but a whole network of transports and loaning of traps. It was amazing, we were located north of Houston in a most awesome city named Montgomery, the way people networked thousands upon thousands of lives were saved every year.
Another amazing city was Greenville, SC where the local humane society had 'Tom Cat Tuesdays' where you could get a tom cat neutered for $10.00 - hell we were sending the Toms there by the groves for a little snip, snip. Clearly remembering one particular trip to the Humane Society Clinic where we admitted Caroline (female canine 50#), Adorable (male), Mewen (male), Squirrel (male), Phoebe (female). They all received altering surgeries, rabies' vaccination, and pain meds for under $200.00. That was in 2012 - 8 years ago but still impressive. Greenville had a second shelter that was a 'kill shelter' but they had a very affordable clinic that helped us save the life of Paca - our 'bait dog' miracle. They would diagnose whatever was going on with her, discuss a course of action, give me a written prescription which I could take to any Publix and they filled it for free. Gotta love Publix!
Charleston has several rescue orgs and groups doing everything they can to make life better for the animals that come across their path or social media feed. What we need is a unified organization of all the rescue groups and someone writing grants to get the funds in here, also to write to the companies and organizations that offer grants, they can tailor grants if enough oil is added to the squeak.
We need to unify our energy and direct that powerful force into the best way to help as many if not all of the animals in our community, in our state, in our regional area, in our country, in our world.
Early December we received a call from a lady who had been taking care of a feral colony for many years. She had TNR through a rescue years back when grants were available to the residents of Kanawha County, West Virginia. She had moved down into a neighboring city and had been coming back daily to tend to the ferals (apx 10). Her house had been up for sale for 3 years. She ended up selling the property and taking a serious loss but more so than money she was losing the property to tend to the cats. She reached out to Gargoyles and though we are not in a position to take on a feral colony something in her voice called out in desperation for these felines that never asked to be put in a situation like this. She told me of four kittens, two real young but able to eat some food and two slightly older. She could touch them, even hold them but make no mistake these are feral cats that are fearful of humans other than their caretaker. Kittens rescued early enough can be 'domesticated' and become exceptional pets. So if nothing else the kittens may be able to be accepted into a rescue, it was worth a try. Through a Messenger Group dedicated to helping the animals of West Virginia, made contact with a rescue in Morgantown that would sponsor these kittens - all four of them. Most of the members pay for the vetting, food, and fuel all out of pocket. Together we network, transport, foster, and rescue animals day in and day out. The energy is electrifying everyone always lifting each other up, showing gratitude and offering emotional and physical and financial support. The caretaker caught the first two, the younger ones and they stayed with Gargoyles for a few hours in a special Quarantine Crate.
Picture taken in Morgantown
Picture taken in Morgantown
Met the transporter across the river in Big Chimney and these two babies were on their way to the next step in saving lives. They would be housed overnight in a heated basement with two puppies who were on the next morning transport to Morgantown. A complex network that comes together with people who put the welfare of these sweet animals top priority. The new property owner requested the caretaker to not come back on the property, not in a bad way, but more due to contractors and a dangerous work zone. After a phone conversation with the new property owner Gargoyles received permission to access the property to feed, trap, whatever we needed to do for the feral cats. That was a relief. There are adults, some very sick and need to be seen by a vet, two that a vet would probably humanely euthanize. Several females in reproduction age, two current mothers of the above mentioned kittens. This week the cats have been fed by Gargoyles, slowly gaining the trust of the ferals. Today the kittens were captured and extra food put down for the adults, as predicted bad weather may prevent travel up the mountain where they reside. The kittens are staying the evening with Gargoyles, in the Quarantine Crate - inside - out of the freezing temps that have settled into our area. These are quite a bit more feral than the other younger kittens. The kittens will be fostered by a feral whisperer who will handle, socialize, and help the babies become calm and friendly pets. This process enables the babies to be adopted into loving homes.
Forty eight pounds of bouncing Lab fur. Yep, that about sums him up. Then there was all of the food he consumed, or the items he destroyed. He is all puppy at this stage and not expected to be anything else. He also touched a lot of people's heart either in person or thru social media - though it was hard to get pictures of him - he just doesn't sit still.
I was professional and reserved with Manu, knowing that the slightest show of surrender of my heart would be meet with unbridled joy and that I felt that was unfair to him. How could I let him fall in love with me or our family to the point that it would hurt him to leave us, that he would yearn for us.
Such a handsome young man, a wee bit of anxiety in his eyes - he has been told of what is unfolding. What he comprehends of that I'm not sure but his eyes says he understands something is changing. He is awaiting his turn to be loaded onto the transport van that will take him to his next home - a foster home, and another step closer to his most awesome life.
Manu
My contact with the Lab Rescue LRCP text me on how the pick-up went. I responded when I stopped for a bite to eat. The pick up went fine. I didn't convey my only complaint of Manu having to ride in a crate that wasn't proper for his size. Manu had outgrown his crate with us a couple of weeks ago and only stayed in there for short periods of times. He just kept growing. You ought to see the legs on this colt.
LRCP Lab Rescue has received a piece of Gargoyle's heart, we trust them to provide him with the love of a community that is devoted to the betterment of the canines in their program.
With mixed emotions this post is written, as Manu has been accepted into a breed specific rescue who is sanctioned and well established! This is awesome news, nothing could be better for him. The bitter sweet part is that he has become a loved member of Gargoyles. He will be missed, how could you not fall in love with this amazing guy?
Lab Rescue has agreed to vetting Manu completely, he will go into a foster home while awaiting adoption. He travels onto his next journey next week and he is wished the very best from Gargoyles.
Manu enjoying his exercise time, first comes the nose...
Magnificent Manu
Manu has been doing well on evening walks, we walk around on loose leash and allow him to get his nostrils all full of the different smells. After he has expelled some of that nose energy we start on 'heel' and work on keeping his head up and his shoulder by my leg. It's a work in progress. We walked by the pond for the nose fulfillment (there are ducks there). Then a brief walk around our immediate neighborhood. We live on a mountain and flat places are far and few in between - anything on an incline/decline is very difficult for me to navigate without the assistance of my Service Dog. So walking with Manu is very limited.
On special occasions we will travel to our nearest state park for a level walking surface. It is very taxing on my energy level, thus the 'special' occasion.
Manu is 100% puppy, growing his mind and body. He is enthusiastic about all the things his amazing nose finds, the stories of the scents he has yet to learn. All of the scents we have no clue about - the dog, well his nose was born to read that scene and some dogs were specifically bred to strengthen that natural instinct. The Labrador Retriever is one such breed. So there is absolutely no reason in the world to try to train him anything until he has had a chance to explore what his nose alerts on. After 30 minutes or so we can begin a 20 minute exercise and training session. We are doing this in the evenings but will be moving this to mid day as the temps drop down below my comfort level. We are working on commands and behavior constantly so 30 minutes a day on nose exercise and 20 minutes of leash work will have to do for now.
Manu is a very high energy pup who loves the outdoors, it would be cruel to keep him inside all day long. Even in bad weather he loves his outdoor time and doesn't seem phased by rain or sleet. Haven't noticed any storm related anxiety, which makes me think he would be good for Search and Rescue work.
At this point in his life he can go in many different directions. Search and Rescue, Service Dog, Therapy Dog. The possibilities are there, all he needs is the correct guidance.
It's getting to be that time of the year where we need to think about our fur friends that don't come inside our own climate controlled homes. If you tend to a feral colony, have a neighborhood stray or know someone who does you have probably already thought about offering some protection from the elements to some kitty cats.
But how? If you own the land they live on you could set up a heated shed or do like Gargoyles did this year and purchase a fairly large greenhouse to provide a dry, heated enclosure for the cats to eat, sleep, and use the litter box. We will also be growing catnip organically, and hydroponically all year long!
Gargoyles is partnered with Alley Cat Allies in their networking to save lives and has awesome resources for feral and domestic cat friends. Please check out this shelter plan:Feral Cat Shelter
Gargoyles has helped many animals find their place with humans as Emotional Support Animals. The benefits of animal companionship far out weighs any negative factors. It is our experience that doctors are educated and prepared to aid in their patients in acquiring a prescription for an Emotional Support Animal. Pet deposits are waived when the animal is recommended by a doctor.
Bringing human and animal together for mutual benefit is kinda what we do here. Our felines have been said to be some of the sweetest kitties ever! We accept that raising them in love helps them love freely.
Came across this article and found it informative and would love to share:
The Mood-Boosting Power of Pets
Pets come with some powerful mental health benefits. Here’s how caring for a dog or cat can help you cope with depression, anxiety, and stress.
The health benefits of pets
Most pet owners are clear about the immediate joys that come with sharing their lives with companion animals. However, many of us remain unaware of the physical and mental health benefits that can also accompany the pleasure of snuggling up to a furry friend. It’s only recently that studies have begun to scientifically explore the benefits of the human-animal bond.
Pets have evolved to become acutely attuned to humans and our behavior and emotions. Dogs, for example, are able to understand many of the words we use, but they’re even better at interpreting our tone of voice, body language, and gestures. And like any good human friend, a loyal dog will look into your eyes to gauge your emotional state and try to understand what you’re thinking and feeling (and to work out when the next walk or treat might be coming, of course).
Pets, especially dogs and cats, can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, ease loneliness, encourage exercise and playfulness, and even improve your cardiovascular health. Caring for an animal can help children grow up more secure and active. Pets also provide valuable companionship for older adults. Perhaps most importantly, though, a pet can add real joy and unconditional love to your life.
Studies have found that:
Pet owners are less likely to suffer from depression than those without pets.
People with pets have lower blood pressure in stressful situations than those without pets. One study even found that when people with borderline hypertension adopted dogs from a shelter, their blood pressure declined significantly within five months.
Playing with a dog or cat can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine, which calm and relax.
Pet owners have lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels (indicators of heart disease) than those without pets.
Heart attack patients with pets survive longer than those without.
Pet owners over age 65 make 30 percent fewer visits to their doctors than those without pets.
While people with pets often experience the greatest health benefits, a pet doesn’t necessarily have to be a dog or a cat. Even watching fish in an aquarium can help reduce muscle tension and lower pulse rate.
One of the reasons for these therapeutic effects is that pets fulfill the basic human need for touch. Even hardened criminals in prison show long-term changes in their behavior after interacting with pets, many of them experiencing mutual affection for the first time. Stroking, hugging, or otherwise touching a loving animal can rapidly calm and soothe you when you’re stressed or anxious. The companionship of a pet can also ease loneliness, and most dogs are a great stimulus for healthy exercise, which can substantially boost your mood and ease depression.
How pets can help you make healthy lifestyle changes
Adopting healthy lifestyle changes plays an important role in easing symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. Caring for a pet can help you make healthy lifestyle changes by:
Increasing exercise. Taking a dog for a walk, hike or run are fun and rewarding ways to fit healthy daily exercise into your schedule. Studies have shown that dog owners are far more likely to meet their daily exercise requirements—and exercising every day is great for the animal as well. It will deepen the connection between you, eradicate most behavior problems in dogs, and keep your pet fit and healthy.
Providing companionship. Companionship can help prevent illness and even add years to your life, while isolation and loneliness can trigger symptoms of depression. Caring for a live animal can help make you feel needed and wanted, and take the focus away from your problems, especially if you live alone. Most dog and cat owners talk to their pets, some even use them to work through their troubles. And nothing beats loneliness like coming home to a wagging tail or purring cat.
Helping you meet new people. Pets can be a great social lubricant for their owners, helping you start and maintain new friendships. Dog owners frequently stop and talk to each other on walks, hikes, or in a dog park. Dog owners also meet new people in pet stores, clubs, and training classes.
Reducing anxiety. The companionship of an animal can offer comfort, help ease anxiety, and build self-confidence for people anxious about going out into the world. Because pets live in the moment—they don’t worry about what happened yesterday or what might happen tomorrow—they can help you become more mindful and appreciate the joy of the present.
Adding structure and routine to your day. Many pets, especially dogs, require a regular feeding and exercise schedule. Having a consistent routine keeps an animal balanced and calm—and it can work for you, too. No matter your mood—depressed, anxious, or stressed—one plaintive look from your pet and you’ll have to get out of bed to feed, exercise, and care for them.
Providing sensory stress relief. Touch and movement are two healthy ways to quickly manage stress. Stroking a dog, cat, or other animal can lower blood pressure and help you quickly feel calmer and less stressed.
Get a dog, lose weight
Numerous studies have linked dog ownership to weight loss:
One year-long study found that walking an overweight dog helped both the animals and their owners lose weight. Researchers found that the dogs provided support in similar ways to a human exercise buddy, but with greater consistency and without any negative influence.
Public housing residents who walked therapy dogs for up to 20 minutes five days a week lost an average of 14.4 pounds in a year, without changing their diets.
A third study found that people with a dog walked 30 minutes more per week than they did before.
Source: Harvard Health Publications
The health benefits of pets for older adults
As well as providing vital companionship, owning a pet can play an important role in healthy aging by helping you to:
Find meaning and joy in life. As you age, you’ll lose things that previously occupied your time and gave your life purpose. You may retire from your career or your children may move far away. Caring for a pet can bring pleasure and help boost your morale, optimism, and sense of self-worth. Choosing to adopt a pet from a shelter, especially an older pet, can add to your sense of fulfillment, knowing that you’ve provided a home to a pet that may otherwise have been euthanized.
Stay connected. Maintaining a social network isn’t always easy as you grow older. Retirement, illness, death, and relocation can take away close friends and family members. And making new friends can get harder. Pets, especially dogs, are a great way for older adults to spark up conversations and meet new people.
Boost your vitality. You can overcome many of the physical challenges associated with aging by taking good care of yourself. Dogs and cats encourage playfulness, laughter, and exercise, which can help boost your immune system and increase your energy.
How pets help adults with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia
As part of the disease, Alzheimer’s patients may exhibit a variety of behavioral problems, many related to an inability to deal with stress.
Research at the University of California at Davis concluded that Alzheimer’s patients suffer less stress and have fewer anxious outbursts if there is a dog or cat in the home.
Pets can provide a source of positive, nonverbal communication. The playful interaction and gentle touch from a well-trained, docile animal can help soothe an Alzheimer’s patient and decrease aggressive behavior.
In many cases a patient’s problem behavior is a reaction to the stressed response of the primary caretaker. Pets can help ease the stress of caregivers. Cats or caged animals may be more suitable than dogs, which generally require more care and can add to the burden of someone who’s already looking after an Alzheimer’s patient.
The health benefits for children
Not only do children who grow up with pets have less risk of allergies and asthma, many also learn responsibility, compassion, and empathy from having a dog or cat.
Unlike parents or teachers, pets are never critical and don’t give orders. They are always loving and their mere presence at home can help provide a sense of security in children. Having an ever-present pet can help ease separation anxiety in children when mom and dad aren’t around.
Having the love and companionship of a pet can make a child feel important and help them develop a positive self-image.
Kids who are emotionally attached to their pets are better able to build relationships with other people.
Studies have also shown that pets can help calm hyperactive or overly aggressive kids. Of course, both the animal and the child need to be trained to behave appropriately with each other.
Children and adults alike can benefit from playing with pets, which can provide a source of calmness and relaxation, as well as a source of stimulation for the brain and body. Playing with a pet can even be a doorway to learning for a child. It can stimulate a child’s imagination and curiosity. The rewards of training a dog to perform a new trick, for example, can teach kids the importance of perseverance. Caring for a furry friend can also offer another benefit to a child: immense joy.
Children with learning disorders and other challenges
Some children with autism or other learning difficulties are better able to interact with pets than people. Autistic children often rely on nonverbal cues to communicate, just as animals do. And learning to first connect with a pet may even help an autistic child in their interactions with people.
Pets can help children with learning disabilities learn how to regulate stress and calm themselves, making them better equipped to overcome the challenges of their disorder.
Playing and exercising with a dog or cat can help a child with learning disorders stay alert and attentive throughout the day. It can also be a great antidote to stress and frustration caused by the learning disability.
Owning a pet is a major commitment
A pet is not a miracle cure for mental illness. Owning a pet is beneficial and comforting only for those who love and appreciate domestic animals and have the time and money to keep a pet happy and healthy. If you’re simply not an “animal person,” pet ownership is not going to provide you with any health benefits or improve your life.
Even if you love animals, it’s important to understand everything that caring for a pet entails. Owning a pet is a commitment that will last through the animal’s lifetime, perhaps 10 or 15 years in the case of dogs. And at the end of that commitment, you’ll face the grief and mourning that comes with losing a beloved companion.
Other drawbacks to owning a pet are:
Pets cost money. Food bills, veterinary care, licenses, grooming costs, toys, bedding, boarding fees, and other maintenance expenses can mount up. If you’re unemployed or elderly, on a limited fixed income, it may be a struggle to cope with the expense of pet ownership.
Pets require time and attention. As any dog owner will tell you, there’s nothing therapeutic about coming home to a dog that has been locked up in the house on his own all day long. Dogs need daily exercise to stay calm and well-balanced; most other pets require at least daily care and attention.
Owning a pet can curb some of your social activity. A dog can only be left alone for a limited time. By training your dog, you’ll be able to take him with you to visit friends, run errands, or sit outside a coffee shop, for example, but you won’t be able to leave for a spur of the moment weekend away without arranging care for your pet first.
Pets can be destructive. Any pet can have an occasional accident at home. Some cats may be prone to shredding upholstery, some dogs to chewing shoes. While training can help eradicate negative, destructive behavior, they remain common in animals left alone without exercise or stimulation for long periods of time.
Pets require responsibility. Most dogs, regardless of size and breed, are capable of inflicting injury on people if not handled responsibly by their owners. Even cats can scratch or bite. Pet owners need to be alert to any danger, especially around children.
Pets carry health risks for some people. While there are some diseases that can be transmitted from cats and dogs to their human handlers, allergies are the most common health risk of pet ownership. If you or a family member has been diagnosed with a pet allergy, carefully consider whether you can live with the symptoms before committing to pet ownership. Also consider that some friends or relatives with allergies may no longer be able to visit your home if you have a pet.
How to find the perfect pet
If you’ve decided that owning a pet is right for you, congratulations: you’re about to open your life to a unique and rewarding relationship. While people who have pets tend to be happier, more independent, and feel more secure than those without pets, it’s important to select the type of pet that best suits your needs and lifestyle.
Talk to other members of your household and agree on the qualities you want in a pet and those that you’d prefer to avoid. In the case of dogs, man’s best friend comes in countless breeds or mix of breeds, each offering a different blend of personality traits:
Do you want an active dog or one that doesn’t need a lot of exercise?
Who will look after the dog? Will your children really follow through on their promises?
How much time will the dog spend alone each day? Do you intend to hire a dog walker or take the animal to daycare?
How big is your living space? Do you have enough room for a large breed?
Do you live with young children or someone frail or disabled who would do better with a gentle breed?
How much shedding can you tolerate?
Do you want a puppy that needs training and housebreaking or a full-grown dog that is already trained?
Purebred vs. mixed breed dogs
If you have a specific breed of dog in mind, you can look for a rescue group that caters to that breed or seek out a reputable breeder. Ask for a referral from other dog owners, a veterinarian, or a local breed club or rescue group, but remember: a reputable breeder will always want to meet you before selling you a dog to ensure that you’ll be a suitable, responsible owner.
Of course, you can also find purebred dogs in shelters—where they’ll cost substantially less than from a breeder—as well as many different types of mixed breed dogs. Mixed breed dogs usually have fewer health problems than their purebred cousins, often have better dispositions, and tend to adapt more easily to a new home. With a purebred, though, it’s easier to know what to expect in regards to size, behavior and health—you’d need to know the different mix of breeds to determine the same of a mutt. Of course, the breed or mix of breeds doesn’t solely determine the character of a dog—much of that is up to you and the kind of home and training you provide for your pet.
Shelter and rescue animals
Whether mixed breed or a purebred, dogs and cats adopted from a shelter or rescue group make excellent pets. For the most part, a pet ends up in a shelter through no fault of his own. His owner may have died or moved to a place that doesn’t allow pets, or the pet may have simply been abandoned by irresponsible owners who bought him on a whim and later discovered that they were unable or unwilling to care for him properly. If any shelter or rescue animal exhibits aggressive behavior, he is typically euthanized rather than offered for adoption.
Rescue groups try to find suitable homes for unwanted or abandoned dogs and cats, many taken from shelters where they would otherwise have been euthanized. Volunteers usually take care of the animals until they can find a permanent home. This means that rescuers are often very familiar with a pet’s personality and can help advise you on whether the pet would make a good match for your needs. By adopting an animal from a shelter or rescue organization, you’ll not only be giving a home to a deserving pet, but you’ll also likely be saving an animal’s life.
Avoid puppies sold in pet stores or on the Internet
Pet stores that care about puppies don’t sell them. That’s because the majority of pet stores that sell puppies carry dogs from cruel and inhumane puppy mills. Puppy mills are like dog-making factories where the mother dogs spend their entire lives in cramped cages or kennels with little or no personal attention or quality of life. When the mother and father dogs can no longer breed, they are discarded or killed. Consumers who purchase puppies from pet stores or over the Internet without seeing a breeder’s home firsthand are often unknowingly supporting this cruel industry.
Help stop this cycle of cruelty simply by choosing to adopt your next pet from a shelter or rescue group, or by purchasing a dog only from a responsible breeder who will show you where your puppy was born and raised.
Source: The Humane Society of the United States
Alternatives to pet ownership
If you don’t have the time, money, or stamina to own a pet full-time, there are still ways you can experience the health benefits of being around animals. Even short periods spent with a dog or cat can benefit both you and the animal.
You can ask to walk a neighbor’s dog, for example, or volunteer at an animal shelter. Most animal shelters or rescue groups welcome volunteers to help care for homeless pets or assist at adoption events. You’ll not only be helping yourself, but also helping to socialize and exercise the animals, making them more adoptable.
Some animal shelters and rescue groups offer pet “rental” programs. Dogs and cats that are available for adoption can be rented out for walks or play dates. You can also foster an animal temporarily until a permanent home is found for him, or to decide if the animal is right for you.
A variety of different organizations offer specially trained therapy dogs and cats to visit children’s hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, hospice programs, shelters, and schools. During these visits, people are invited to pet and stroke the animals, which can improve mood and reduce stress and anxiety.
Other resources
Get Healthy, Get a Dog – The health benefits of canine companionship (Harvard Medical School Special Health Report)
The Power of Pets – Explores the health benefits of human-animal interactions. (National Institutes of Health)
Pets for the Elderly – A non-profit charity that pays a portion of the adoption fee when a senior adopts a companion pet from one of their participating shelters in the U.S. (The Pets for the Elderly Foundation)
Children & Dogs – Tips for parents about ensuring a safe and loving relationship. (Your Dog’s Friend)
Choosing the Right Dog – Tips on choosing a dog that’s right for you. (Blue Cross for Pets)
Authors: Lawrence Robinson and Jeanne Segal, Ph.D. Last updated: June 2019.
