Published February 12, 2025

How Calgary’s Disability Community is Finding Joy and Connection With Animal Therapy

Pets have a special way of making us feel loved and happy. Whether it’s a wagging tail, a soft purr, or a gentle nuzzle, they bring comfort and joy to our lives. But did you know that animals can also help us heal and feel better? This is called pet therapy or animal therapy. Let’s explore how Calgary Progressive Lifestyles Foundation’s new initiative, Cuddly Companions can make a difference.

Does Pet Therapy Really Work?

Yes, it really does! Pet therapy, also known as Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is when trained animals visit people to help improve their mental health. These animals are calm, friendly, and love to be around people! Studies show that spending time with animals can lower stress, make us feel happier, and even help our bodies heal faster. For example, petting a dog, cat, or bunny can release a hormone called oxytocin, which makes us feel calm and loved. Animals also have a unique way of making us feel safe and accepted. Here’s why they’re such great company:

Non-Judgmental Support: Animals don’t care about your appearance, abilities, or struggles. They offer unconditional love, which can be incredibly healing for someone who feels isolated or judged.
Distraction from Pain or Stress: Focusing on an animal can help take your mind off physical pain or emotional distress. This is especially helpful for people with chronic illnesses or disabilities.
Building Trust and Confidence: Working with an animal can help build trust and self-esteem. For example, successfully guiding a therapy dog through a task can give a sense of accomplishment.
Encouraging Social Interaction: Animals are natural icebreakers. They can help you feel more comfortable in social situations, making it easier to connect with others.

Animal Therapy Benefits

Animal therapy offers many wonderful benefits, especially for people with disabilities. Here’s how these cuddly companions can make an incredible difference:

Improves Physical Health: Interacting with animals can help improve motor skills, coordination, and strength. For example, brushing a dog or walking with a therapy animal can be great gentle exercise.
Reduces Stress and Anxiety: Animals have a calming presence. Petting a dog or cat can lower stress hormones and help someone feel more relaxed, which is especially helpful for those with anxiety or sensory challenges.
Encourages Social Interaction: Animals can be a bridge to connecting with others. For someone with a disability, a therapy animal can make it easier to start conversations and feel more comfortable in social settings.
Boosts Emotional Well-Being: Animals provide unconditional love and companionship, which can help reduce feelings of loneliness or depression. Their presence can bring joy and comfort during tough times.
Increases Confidence and Independence: Working with animals can help people with disabilities build confidence and a sense of accomplishment. For example, learning to care for or train a therapy animal can foster independence.
Provides Sensory Support: For individuals with sensory processing challenges, the soft fur of a cat or the gentle nudge of a dog can provide soothing sensory input.
Enhances Communication Skills: Animals can help non-verbal individuals or those with speech difficulties express themselves in new ways, whether through gestures, sounds, or simply bonding with the animal.

Service Animals vs Therapy Animals

It’s important to know the difference between service animals and therapy animals. Service animals are trained to help people with physical or invisible disabilities. For example, a guide dog helps someone who is blind, or a service dog can alert someone with diabetes if their blood sugar is too low. Therapy animals are trained to provide comfort and emotional support. They sometimes visit hospitals, schools, homes, or nursing homes to help individuals improve their mental health.

Introducing: Cuddly Companions

At CPLF, we’re always looking for new ways to support our community. That’s why we’re excited to introduce our pet therapy initiative—a program designed to bring joy, comfort, and the healing power of animals to our supported clients. We’ll match you with a pet in our very own community, and coordinate a 1-hour visit in your home or a green space where you can interact and have some play time or just relax together—your choice!