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| © Reuters News & Media Inc. |
LiLou the therapy pig, part of the
"Wag Brigade" program that brings therapy animals to the airport to
cheer passengers up and help ease travel anxieties, stands in front of a
departures board at San Francisco International Airport in San
Francisco, California, October 4, 2019.
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| © Reuters News & Media Inc. |
Double amputee dog Cora Rose balances on her hind legs while Zach Skow
repairs her cart on a street in Washington, May 15, 2019. Cora Rose
serves in a prisoner therapy program founded by Skow called "Pawsitive
Change" in California.
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| © Reuters News & Media Inc. |
Seth and Ethan Wiggins (R) read to "Stewart" and "Tyler," cats up for
adoption, as part of "The Book Buddies Program" at the Animal Rescue
League of Berks County in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania February 11, 2014.
Children in grades 1-8 read to the cats as a way to improve their
reading skills and gain confidence. The shelter animals can be a
non-evaluative presence that can provide support and comfort to
participants without judging them. Students showed sustained focus and
maintained a higher state of awareness, as well as improved attitudes
toward school, according to researchers at Tufts University.
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| © Reuters News & Media Inc. |
A boy swims with dolphins during a dolphin therapy session at the Nemo
Dolphinarium in Kiev September 28, 2013. The aquarium provides a program
for pregnant women, children and people with disabilities to receive
therapy by swimming, touching and playing with the dolphins.
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| © Reuters News & Media Inc. |
Atila, a trained therapeutic greyhound used to treat patients with mental
health issues and learning difficulties, falls asleep as it is caressed
by three patients at Benito Menni health facility in Elizondo, northern
Spain, February 13, 2017.
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| © Reuters News & Media Inc. |
Handler Jorge Garcia-Bengochea holds Honor, a miniature therapy horse
from Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses, as they visit with
patients at the Kravis Children's Hospital at Mount Sinai in Manhattan,
New York City, March 16, 2016.
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| © Reuters News & Media Inc. |
Aelane Vasquez,9, reads with Leslie Hight, a therapy dog handler for New
York Therapy Animals, and Izzy, a Reading Education Assistance Dog
therapy dog, at Public School 57 in Spanish Harlem, New York, May 16,
2016.
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| © Reuters News & Media Inc. |
Zucca, a Labrador retriever therapy dog, accompanies a child during a
children dentist's session in a public hospital as part of a program to
calm fears of children in the dentist chair in Santiago, Chile, May 8,
2018.
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| © Reuters News & Media Inc. |
Captain Katie Kopp from 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment of the 4th
Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division talks to therapy dog Hank,
which was deployed in the region as stress relief, during the dog's
visit to Combat Outpost Nangalam in the Pech River Valley of
Afghanistan's Kunar Province July 3, 2012.
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| © Reuters News & Media Inc. |
Fernando Noailles, emotional therapist, and his patient Maria Lopez
Herraiz attend an emotional therapy session with a horse named Madrid in
Guadalix de la Sierra, outside Madrid, Spain, April 27, 2018. Noailles
uses his animals to help people suffering from stress and anxiety.
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| © Reuters News & Media Inc. |
Luis Cruz with cerebral palsy, plays with Luna, a therapeutically
trained dog, during a therapy session at the Colitas Foundation in
Panama City September 22, 2012.
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| © Reuters News & Media Inc. |
Patient Isabelle Stadella hughs Joca, a therapeutically trained dog,
during a therapy session at Hospital Infantil Sabara in Sao Paulo
October 18, 2013.
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| © Reuters News & Media Inc. |
A girl feeds a sheep during a visit to the "Way Bi" interactive farm in Tecpan, Chimaltenango region, Guatemala, July 19, 2012.
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| © Reuters News & Media Inc. |
A handicapped girl holds a ball to her forehead during a session of
equine-assisted therapy at the Mounted Police Unit in Mexico City May
15, 2013, part of a free equine-assisted therapy program to help
hundreds of children with autism, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain
injury, stroke, emotional disturbances, eating disorders and substance
abuse, according to local media.
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| © Reuters News & Media Inc. |
Geovany Gonzalez, with cerebral palsy, lies on top of Fiona, a
therapeutically trained dog, during a therapy session at the Colitas
Foundation in Panama City September 22, 2012.
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| © Reuters News & Media Inc. |
Leonardo Araujo, 12, swims with a "Boto Cor-de-Rosa" (Pink River
Dolphin) during a session in the Negro River in Novo Airao city,
northern Brazil July 26, 2010. The therapy involves swimming with the
pink river dolphin, in the belief that the ultrasonic waves emitted by
the dolphins will help cure a range of health problems, according to
physiotherapist and Bototerapia creator Igor Simoes. Araujo, who could
not walk before the treatment, says his physical capabilities and self
esteem have improved greatly since the therapy.
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| © Reuters News & Media Inc. |
U.S. Army Staff Sgt Michael Cain shares a moment with his favorite
horse, Bud, during to a session of equine-assisted therapy at the U.S.
Army's Caisson Platoon, Old Guard, at Fort Myer in Arlington, Virginia,
October 21, 2010.
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| © Reuters News & Media Inc. |
A sea lion named Neron jumps through a ring past a girl affected by a
neurobehavioral developmental disorder and her therapist during an
Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) at the Rio Safari Park in Elche, Spain
July 23, 2010.
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| © Reuters News & Media Inc. |
Multiple sclerosis patient Sue Sutton (L) embraces Dare, a two-legged
Sheltie dog used in therapy for disabled people in Denver, Colorado July
15, 2009. Dare was born with all four legs but his back left leg was
bitten off and his left front leg was caught in a cage and broken in
several places. Now Dare visits amputee clinics, special needs schools
and MS patients to inspire them and help them forget their problems with
owner Tami Skinner (R). Dare is able to walk and run on his two legs
just like any dog.
