Sunday therapy

Who's a sweet boy? Gus is! Just one reason to actually like going to the vet. Image found on Searcy Animal Clinic.

Who’s a sweet boy? Gus is! Just one reason to actually like going to the vet.
Image found on Searcy Animal Clinic.

After this past week, I have even more respect for working and/or therapy animals. Sure, Gus wasn’t able to calm Luke down when we had to go to the vet’s office, but he does an awful lot of good in the waiting room at the clinic. Whether it’s keeping kids entertained and occupied or soothing nervous animals, Gus is a hardworking cat. (And yep, the furry one is much better now, and still has a few days of antibiotics left for his kidney infection. If I’m lucky he’ll forgive me in a week or so.)

Audi is the calmest of Martin girls, so is perfect for therapy. Photo by Philip Martin found on Arkansas Living.

Audi is the calmest of the Martin girls, so is perfect for therapy.
Photo by Philip Martin found on Arkansas Living.

My co-worker and friend Karen got one of her three dogs, Audi (her sisters are Paris and Dublin), certified as a therapy dog and often spends time on weekends taking Audi wherever she’s needed to bring comfort to whoever needs it. What better way to feel better is there than fuzzy-belly therapy?  Nothing as far as I’m concerned.

Luke isn't calm enough around strangers to be a therapy cat, but this sweetie is. Image found on ParklandOnline.

Luke isn’t calm enough around strangers to be a therapy cat, but this sweetie is.
Image found on ParklandOnline.

Anything that can make a hospital stay more bearable is worth a little dander. Image by Jeff Krausse found on Huffington Post.

Anything that can make a hospital stay more bearable is worth a little dander.
Image by Jeff Krausse found on Huffington Post.

And even kangaroos can provide comfort. Image found on L.A. Unleashed blog (Los Angeles Times).

Even kangaroos can provide comfort.
Image found on L.A. Unleashed blog (Los Angeles Times).

Yep, ducks do therapy too ... I don't know if they all wear toupees though ... Image found on Tractor Supply Co.

Yep, ducks do therapy too … I don’t know if they all wear toupees though …
Image found on Tractor Supply Co.

I now have an inexplicable urge to smooch a llama. Image by Jen Osborne found on Slate.

I now have an inexplicable urge to smooch a llama.
Image by Jen Osborne found on Slate.

I've got a bit of a cold right now, but I'll spare you the "little hoarse" jokes. Image found on JournalStar.

I’ve got a bit of a cold right now, but I’ll spare you the “little hoarse” jokes.
Image found on JournalStar.

Such bliss can come from hugging something fuzzy. Image found on USA Hagen.

Such bliss can come from hugging something fuzzy.
Image found on USA Hagen.

You know that saying, "Everything's better with bacon"? Maybe that should be "bunnies." Image found on AL.com.

You know that saying, “Everything’s better with bacon”? Maybe that should be “bunnies.”
Image found on AL.com.

Snxx ... wait, did you just say "Awwwwww?"

Of course, for me, there’s nothing more therapeutic than this guy.  🙂

16 thoughts on “Sunday therapy

  1. Poor Luke. I’m glad he’s feeling better. I enjoyed the photos of therapy pets. My dad really missed his cat when he was in the nursing home, but we weren’t able to take him back home to pet her. It broke my heart, and I wish a therapy cat or dog had been available for him.

    Like

  2. It’s been heartening to read that more and more hospitals around here are allowing therapy animals. I know if I were hospitalized or otherwise confined in some way, I’d love being visited by these animals (and maybe, hopefully, my own pets).

    Like

    • It makes such a difference! Karen’s taken Audi to nursing homes, and she says the residents are just taken to another place when they hold Audi and the other animals. Anything that can make you feel better, even if for just a few minutes, is good for your health and peace of mind.

      Like

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.