School-age children have been experiencing high levels of stress in recent years. Stress can negatively affect learning and development in kids. A group of researchers in the UK were interested in how animal-assisted interventions (AAI) with therapy dogs could help alleviate stress in school children. The...
When Kerry Irving was seriously injured in a car accident, he suffered not only from severe pain but also anxiety and depression. A Springer Spaniel named Max provided Kerry with much needed comfort. Kerry began filming Max’s walks in England’s scenic Lake District and posting the...
Following public health guidelines can help keep all of us safe and healthy, but it sometimes can lead to social isolation and loneliness, especially among older adults. That’s why the folks at the Animal Farm Foundation created Pets Together, a program that brings pets and...
Pet Partners, a therapy animal non-profit that fosters human health and well-being through the human-animal bond, has created a new program that encourages young readers to practice reading with their pets. We Are All Ears is especially well-suited to this time of social isolation, when many...
Doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel are on the front lines of the Coronavirus pandemic. A one-year old yellow Lab named Wynn is providing much-needed emotional comfort for staff at Rose Medical Center in Denver, Colorado. According to a story on CNN, Wynn’s trainer (who is...
Can therapy dogs help with the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children? A study conducted by researchers at the University of California – Irvine School of Medicine has found that canine assisted intervention (CAI) can improve quality of life for children with...
It has long been known that visits from pet therapy animals help improve the emotional well-being of patients in hospitals and nursing homes. How do animal therapy visits help cancer patients who are enduring difficult chemotherapy and radiation treatments? A recent study in the Journal...