The Paw-some Health Benefits of Pet Therapy

At the tail-end of May we wanted to honor Mental Health Awareness Month in a paws-itive manner. So we teamed up with Accenture and Happy Tails Pet Therapy to showcase the amazing mental and physical health benefits of pet therapy!

Stationed in the Tech Square Courtyard on a beautiful Friday morning, three volunteers brought their incredibly sweet dogs for attendees to pet, cuddle, and interact with – all as a means of providing numerous cognitive, physical, social, and emotional benefits.

From stimulation to sensory gratification to companionship, these dog-tors know laughter and love is truly the best medicine. And as participants played with the pups, we also asked them what they do in their daily lives to help support their mental health:

It was evident that spirits were immediately lifted upon interaction with the friendly floofs, with Robin Boggs, an Accenture employee and volunteer at Happy Tails Pet Therapy, adding that “petting dogs can lower blood pressure and stress levels.” And as serotonin levels increased, several community members asked how they could join the organization. According to their website, Happy Tails Pet Therapy requires pet handlers and their pets to complete a robust, seven-step process, which includes orientations, evaluations, training, and more!