Animal Alies 2

Therapy Animals

by Beth Haley

In working with Veterans, I came across a special therapy animal who’s impact I really didn’t expect: Stuffed animals. I guess this surprised me because we are all adults.

Meet Hernando the Pelican

Clients talk to him, pat him on the head, and he’s even been invited for weekend sleepovers. They meet and greet him like any other person or animal.

I brought him to work one day because I thought he was cute, but now he has earned such a reputation for himself that I dare not leave him behind! Inevitably, someone will ask where he is at if he stays home.

Who am I?

As with Hernando, when our animal friends enter a room it is like seeing a light go on in each face.