Therapeutic Benefits of Pets |

Pets provide some very important therapeutic benefits including:

Calming influence, help to relieve stress
Boosting confidence and self-esteem especially in children
Mental stimulation and entertainment – animals increase communication, laughter and play
Help develop nurturing skills and empathy with animals and humans
Provide unconditional love

Animal-assisted (pet) therapy can be used in a variety of settings including the home, nursing homes, retirement residences, hospitals, schools, and prisons.

Looking for a therapy cat or dog to visit? Go to Therapeutic Paws of Canada or the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Services.

Read more about Pet Therapy from Healthline or About Animal-Assisted Therapy from the American Humane Association.

Check out the Library's recent books about the benefits of pet therapy. To see which branch has a copy of the book and to place a hold, click on the title or cover link;