Did you know sitting with a smiling lamb can lower your blood pressure? That’s what I felt as I sunk into a chair with Bradley. I had just ended an emotional week, but those stressful feelings melted away as I stroked the lamb’s fur. He was patient, understanding this was exactly what I needed. As a therapy animal, that’s his job. Bradley knew I needed some end-of-the-week therapy.
When people ask what I do to manage the emotional stress of ministry work, I answer with what you see in these photos: animals. I find time for an afternoon at Fantastic Farms, Animal Therapeutic Riding Center, Little Bitty Acres Mobile Petting Zoo, or Safari’s Sanctuary. Watching the animals bring laughter and comfort to people is calming and gives me hope. I can tell many stories about how therapy animals have helped me, too. I couldn’t do what I do without them!
Lisa Bain Ministries includes animal therapy in all our activities, like care package deliveries, visits, and events. Moose and I recently visited a man who was in a hospice center. As we entered the room, his daughter waved at us and said he couldn’t see the dog today because he was unresponsive. As Moose and I were leaving, she called us back. “Let’s just put Moose’s paw up to his hand,” she said. “He loves dogs so much.”
Moose walked up and placed his enormous paw into the man’s hand, and there it was: a smile from someone who was 
“unresponsive.” The man’s hand squeezed Moose’s paw, and my dog moved closer. Instantly, the man’s eyes opened as Moose watched him closely. The daughter wiped tears and thanked us for this moment of joy with her father. Moose was there for the man in his final moments; he made his journey to heaven soon after our visit. It was clear that Moose didn’t want to leave the room. This intelligent, sensitive therapy dog knew his purpose, and I believe he could sense the man was close to the end of his life.
I could tell you many stories of how my dogs have been an extension of God’s arm to help others when I couldn’t. Therapy animals’ ability to sense people’s needs amazes me. They know when to nuzzle and give kisses, when to be still, and allow someone to hug and stroke their fur. Animals don’t hurry through a visit; they aren’t checking the time or thinking about the next place they’ll go. They don’t worry about saying the right words or bringing an appropriate gift. They are the gift. Their ability to linger in the moment can teach us what it means to be present for someone.
April 30th is National Therapy Animal Day, so I’m taking this opportunity to get a head start to thank our pet therapy partners for linking arms with us to help our community experience the comfort, healing, and joy these animals bring. If you know a therapy pet, give them a big hug this month and thank them for the joy they bring to all of us.
Thank you Justina Loomis with Funtastic Farms, Morgynn McCurry with Little Bitty Acres – Mobile Petting Zoo, Denise Combs Ward with American Therapeutic Riding Center, and Lori Ensign with Safari’s Sanctuary Zoo. We love and appreciate you!