BENEFITS OF PET THERAPY

Mental Health

  • lifts spirits and lessens depression
  • decreases feelings of isolation and alienation
  • encourages communication
  • provides comfort
  • increases socialization and sense of community
  • reduces boredom
  • decreases anxiety
  • helps children overcome speech and emotional disorders
  • creates motivation for the client to recover faster
  • reduces loneliness

Literacy Support (reading programs)

  • helps children focus better
  • improves literacy skills
  • provides non-stressful, non-judgmental environment
  • increases self-confidence
  • reduces self-consciousness
  • encourages the love of reading and learning in general

Physical Health

  • lowers blood pressure
  • improves cardiovascular health
  • releases endorphins (oxytocin) that have a calming effect
  • the act of petting produces an automatic relaxation response

Physical Therapy

  • increases joint movement
  • improves recovery time
  • maintains or increases motor skills
  • provides motivation to move more, stretch farther, exercise longer
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