Latest news with #pettherapy
CNA
03-07-2025
- Health
- CNA
Some alternative therapies owners are using for their pets
Some alternative therapies owners are using for their pets By CNA/Lim Li Ting Some pet owners in Singapore are opting for acupuncture to treat their furry friend's mobility problems or offer them pain relief. Needles are inserted into acupuncture points, releasing endorphins for relaxation. Pet owner Kenneth Chng said he saw large improvements in his cat's mobility after the acupuncture treatments. Massage is another form of treatment for pain relief. It also serves as a form of examination, to see if there are any lumps that could require medical attention. Next Story
Forbes
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Senior Living Center Welcomes Shelter Dogs For Uplifting Photo Shoot
Shelter dog Betty Boop poses for a portrait with a resident at Brookdale Bayshore, a senior living ... More facility in Tampa, Florida. A photography session at a senior living center is highlighting the joy that shelter dogs can bring to our lives. During the May 22 event, volunteers drove shelter dogs from Humane Society of Tampa Bay to Brookdale Bayshore, a senior living facility in Tampa, Florida. There, residents posed with pups for portraits by Adam Goldberg, co-owner of AGoldPhoto Pet Photography. Shelter dog Ozzy smiles during a portrait session. 'It was really rewarding to see them smiling and happy,' Goldberg said. 'And the dogs loved getting out of the shelter. It was great to see everybody so happy.' The common area where the dogs waited for their photo sessions turned into a festive affair. Any interested residents and staff could come meet and pet the dogs, who drew a crowd. In fact, the pets proved so popular that two of them — Lucie and Zoe — were adopted by employees that very day. Elizabeth Buchinski, director of resident engagement at Brookdale Bayshore, said the adopters – the dining services manager and nurse manager – each started the day without intending to adopt a pet. 'It just worked out with the connections they made with the animals,' she said. Shelter dogs drew a crowd of fans at Brookdale Bayshore on May 22, 2025. 'The residents loved it. It ... More was smiles all around,' said Elizabeth Buchinski, director of resident engagement. Brookdale Bayshore is a pet-friendly facility where the staff can even help residents care for their animals, from dogs and cats to birds, according to Buchinski. Being able to move into the senior living facility with a beloved pet helps make the transition easier, and pets can give residents a 'greater purpose' in having to get up each day to care for their animals, she says. Pets are invariable popular with other residents, and the animals themselves benefit from constant attention since their guardians are retired. The staff enjoys interacting with residents' pets; many dogs roll onto their backs to request a belly rub from Buchinski, who they know keeps dog treats nearby. 'For me, seeing the dogs is a highlight,' she said. 'I love to see the dogs that live here.' A resident dog named Sophie also posed for a portrait with her owners since they recently adopted her from Humane Society of Tampa Bay, which always offers a 50% discount on adoption fees to adopters who are 65 and older. Two residents pose with Sophie, a dog they adopted from Humane Society of Tampa Bay. During the shelter dog meet-and-greet in the common area and portrait sessions, many residents shared stories with Goldberg about past and present pets, which he found delightful. 'One of the women was like, 'Oh, my two cats upstairs are going to be jealous,'' he said. Goldberg feels the event was a win-win for the residents and shelter dogs, who benefitted from getting the chance to leave the shelter to ride in a car and socialize with a variety of people away from the noise of a shelter environment. He hopes his photos help challenge any preconceived notions people may have about senior living facilities and shelter dogs. 'My whole mission is to show people that shelter animals are just like every other dogs – just someone couldn't take care of them anymore,' he said. 'They're not broken.' After posing for her portrait with a Brookdale Bayshore resident, shelter dog Zoe got adopted by the ... More nurse manager. Buchinski agrees that the overall goal of the project was to get the word out about adoptable dogs at the shelter. But she's also glad the experience could help enrich the lives of residents at Brookdale Bayshore. 'It was a day of joy – an opportunity to reminisce and get to actively engage in a community partnership. I was just excited for my residents to experience a day like that,' she said. 'And then the byproduct and the exciting part is we have photographs to remember it.'
BBC News
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'Popcorn the hamster led me to meet the love of my life'
When Chris Davies's daughter first begged him for a hamster, he wasn't exactly eight-year-old Lily, after hours of research, managed to convinced her dad they were not just "starter pets" and to welcome one into their home. The NHS nurse bought Popcorn, a hamster he said he knew there was "something different" about from the nothing could have prepared Chris for the "surreal" impact the rodent would have on his life, eventually leading him to the woman he will soon marry. Not long after bringing Popcorn home, Chris' life took an expected turn as he had a "sudden" break-up."I was broken after," he said. Yet during those lonely times, it was Popcorn who offered him unexpected support."I thought I'd just be more open-minded and see what this animal was about."Chris was surprised to find that Popcorn behaved more like a loyal puppy than a rodent."He was following me like a dog," he said. "I got him on the sofa with me, and he fell asleep on my chest. I couldn't believe it." For Chris, who struggles with anxiety, Popcorn soon became a source of calm and connection."It was just a really beautiful thing. It was mindfulness. "Being a nurse in the NHS, some days are quite hard and it's really stressful, but Popcorn would just calm me down."Lily and other family members began encouraging Chris to post videos of Popcorn's behaviour online."I was kind of anxious at first," Chris said. "How many blokes do you see lying on a sofa with a hamster?"But almost as soon as Chris began posting videos of Popcorn on TikTok, they took off. More than140,000 fans were charmed by Popcorn's unusual personality, his affection and his bond with Chris and became, as Chris lovingly described him, their "micro-dog". What followed was a bizarre set of events no one could have been predicted, Chris Popcorn gained popularity online, Chris and Lily wrote a book together about the impact that the little critter had on their family, which was then published in May one evening, Chris then received a comment from a fellow Cardiffian, Carrie, telling him his content was "cute".The pair got chatting, soon discovering mutual passions, a shared love for animals and even the same profession."We were living only a mile apart, but we'd never bumped into each other," Chris said. "It was crazy." Chris and Carrie met in person a few months later and when Carrie held Popcorn, Chris said, it was like a something "clicked into place".The family, which has now grown to include Carrie and her children as well, sadly lost Popcorn in the summer of fast forward to today and Chris and Carrie are engaged, set to marry this wedding cake will even feature a small tribute to Popcorn, with his name written at the bottom. "Without him it wouldn't have happened, you know. He was cupid, in a way." Chris Popcorn has been gone for a few years now, his impact remains Chris, he was more than just a pet. "There's never be another Popcorn," he said. "He was just a one-off."
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Warwick university holds 'DeStresstival' to help exam students
A university is hosting a unique festival in a bid to help students unwind during one of the most demanding points in the academic year. DeStresstival is a free wellbeing programme designed to support good mental health at the University of Warwick and includes events such as pet therapy, mindfulness sessions, creative workshops and Muqri had been studying for his exams and said: "When you're stressed, you tend to socialise less. You come here, see your friends and do some group activities, so it's like a motivation".The initiative began on 12 May, during Mental Health Awareness Week, and will run until June 8. 'Holistic wellbeing' The activities include pickleball, which is a combination of tennis, badminton and table tennis, and a sound bath workshop, offering an immersive relaxation experience using sound frequencies to promote calm and can also join creative sessions such as rock painting, as well as heading to the petting zoo where they can meet friendly animals including goats, alpacas and guinea pigs in a calm, outdoor setting to help relieve stress and lift their mood. Event organiser Khushi Ganatra said the festival, which was in its second year, started after people were concerned students were spending too long in their rooms and in the library. "I think it's really important to take breaks and make sure your mind is as clear as it can be as part of your holistic wellbeing."If students are struggling with stress and exams, it's really important to tackle that from the root of the issue, and by holding these kinds of events, they can feel more supported and able to take care of themselves," Ms Ganatra said. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
CBC
21-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
How a volunteer pet therapy team is bringing smiles to Ridge Meadows Hospital
How a volunteer pet therapy team is bringing smiles to Ridge Meadows Hospital 9 minutes ago Duration 4:30
