How can I get animal assisted therapy for my loneliness?

Well, unless you’re living in an assisted care facility, or staying in a hospital, you basically can’t. But that doesn’t mean you can’t avail yourself of animal assisted therapy.

Animal assisted therapy programs are usually an hour or so long, and they involve little more than interaction between a (safe) dog or cat, and an individual. A great way of getting an hour’s worth of interaction with a pet is to sign up to walk dogs or pat cats at the local pound. Don’t groan! It’s not cheesy!

I constructed my own animal assisted therapy program for loneliness by going to the local pound and walking a dog for an hour about once or twice a week. I monitored my loneliness levels before and after each walk, and I always felt less lonely at the end of our walks. I loved looking at the dogs, and patting them, and visiting with them in their cages.

It’s easier to get involved with pounds in small cities or towns. When I was in Toronto, the city pound had a huge waiting list for dog-walkers, and you had to take special training before you could begin walking dogs. The small town where I live now has a pretty open-door policy. I can go grab a dog whenever I wish (and I do!).