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How therapy animals brought comfort and joy to people in this pandemic year

When the coronavirus pandemic abruptly stopped in-person visits, therapy dog handlers found creative ways to share the healing power of pets.
Courtesy of Lori Ann Wright
/ Source: TODAY
By Jen Reeder

In this dark year, pets have brightened the lives of both their families and strangers. The purrs of cats in laps and wagging tails of dogs have brought comfort to millions of Americans having to social distance from other people.

Because therapy animal handlers believe so strongly in the healing power of pets, in pre-pandemic times they volunteer to take their dogs and cats to hospitals, schools, assisted living facilities, airports, funeral homes, dentist offices and other places where animals can help reduce stress and offer support. For the nonprofit Pet Partners alone, around 13,000 therapy animal teams make more than 3 million visits each year in communities across the country.

So when the coronavirus pandemic shut down most in-person visits, therapy animal teams didn’t give up. They just got creative.

“It has been an unusual circumstance where what is best for people’s health during a pandemic (isolating to stay safe) is in direct conflict with how we operate to bring the benefits of therapy animals to people, and visiting in person hasn’t been an option in most places,” Elisabeth Van Every, senior communications specialist at Pet Partners, told TODAY in an email. “But now more than ever people need joy, comfort, and uplifting, and these wonderful therapy animals and their handlers have found new ways to bring the power of pets to those in need.”

Here are some of the special ways therapy animal teams managed to spread cheer this year.

They wagged from outside windows at assisted living facilities.

A man smiles at a therapy dog team from inside a senior living facility.
Pet Partners team Debra Bianchini and therapy dog Brutus make a window visit to Bianchini's dad at a nursing facility in Cheshire, Connecticut.Courtesy of Debra Bianchini

They paraded outside of hospitals for nurses and doctors.

Therapy dog Cody with hospital staff.
Therapy dog Cody participates in a therapy pet parade at Bridgeport Hospital in Milford, Connecticut.Courtesy of Michael Scagliarini

They Zoomed, of course.

Therapy dog Lulu in a virtual visit.
Lulu, an English Mastiff, sits pretty during a virtual video visit.Courtesy of Sara Fuerst

They put their feline curiosity to good use outside of hospitals.

Therapy cat Pearl looks in a hospital window.
Therapy cat Pearl makes a window visit at a hospital in Cleveland, Ohio.Courtesy of Geralyn Hawk

They “cloned” themselves.

Marley's life-size cutout brings comfort to families of hospice patients in the Nashville area.
Marley's life-size cutout brings comfort to families of hospice patients in the Nashville area.Courtesy of Julie McCutcheon

They offered their bellies to hospital staff working tirelessly during the pandemic.

Therapy dog Zest offers a belly to healthcare workers.
Therapy dog Zest provides comfort to healthcare workers at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Burlington, Massachusetts.Courtesy of Patti Betti

They smiled from decorated cars at residents in senior living communities.

Therapy dog Theo smiles from a car.
Therapy dog Theo takes part in a drive-through visit at Abbotswood at Irving Park in Greensboro, North Carolina.Courtesy of Elizabeth B. Kuoni

They showed gratitude to our men and women in uniform.

Rhett visits members of the Colorado National Guard.
Therapy dog Rhett visits the Colorado National Guard's Unified Command Center during a Pet Partners Animal-Assisted Crisis Response deployment.Teri Fotheringham Photography

They proved that our precious pets always give 100%.

Calamity rests after virtual story time.
Calamity, a Pet Partners therapy dog since 2015, has been offering virtual story time visits to comfort those in need during the pandemic.Courtesy of Ranielle Gray

Here’s to in-person visits and brighter days in 2021!

Jen Reeder

Jen Reeder is a contributor to the Pets section of TODAY.com and former president of the Dog Writers Association of America. Bylines include CNN, BBC News, Woman's World, Inside Your Dog's Mind and many other publications.