When we experience grief or trauma, we are as a person are sometimes shaken. We are scared to move on and live in the pain of what has just happened—trusting yourself and those around you to understand what life looks like is difficult. We isolate and hide feelings, causing more pain and turmoil and delaying healing.The bond between animals and humans has always been strong, but most don’t see farm animals as your typical therapy animal. The dog or a dairy cow are all accepting, non-judgemental beings that get and love take on without regard for their state. 

Animal-assisted therapy can be more than just simply spending time with the animal. Engaging the animal in walking, brushing, feeding, riding, and overall care increases empathy, self-esteem, trust, and social skill and decreases isolation, loneliness, anxiety, and depression.

The goofy entertainment nature of a goat can provide a laugh and a lighthearted moment to someone while they are hurting. A horse or a cow’s calm and composed nature can help break down walls and allow someone to open up and trust. Sometimes the animals can tell us that it’s ok, but not always to be ok.

Team TLF