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Doctors are confirming what we at Animal Friends have known all along—that pets are a prescription for lives better lived. A growing body of evidence supports the benefits of animal interaction, including decreased blood pressure rates, reduced stress, and accelerated recovery from injuries. Animal Friends serves the community with a broad range of programs that center around the health and wellness benefits of interaction with pets.
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The winner of the “Celebrate Older Americans’ Month” raffle basket was Gail Altenburger, adopter of 10 ½-year-old Vanessa, a Bichon frise. Congratulations Gail and Vanessa! Pet-Assisted Therapy
Sigmund Glagola had a great time visiting the folks at Residence at Hilltop in Monongahela!
Animal Friends’ Pet-Assisted Therapy canine volunteer Rocky Glagola visited Residence at Hilltop in Monongahela on St. Patrick's Day. He wore his special St. Patrick's bandana.
"I just became a member of the Pet Assisted Therapy team and made my first visit to the West Hills Health & Rehab Center in Moon Township on November 3. I got to curl up on a bed for some great petting! I can't wait to go again!" --Solomon Lavelle "The Upper St. Clair Stress Free Day was fun! I rolled over on my back for lots of petting!" - Tika Litzinger "I attended a Spring Fling event sponsored by Grane Hospice! What fun! And my photo even made their newsletter." - Callie Grentz-Stern "Bella enjoys her visits at Seneca Manor very much. Bella is a sweet, gentle and wonderful dog. I am grateful for the opportunity to share her with others. The staff and residents at Seneca Manor are great and Bella loves to see them!" -- Bella's Guardian
 In this picture, Sunshine bailey sits in her walker, which was decorated by the residents of St. Mary's Courtyard. It is the perfect height for the residents that are sitting down or in bed to see Sunshine and pet her. You can see how comfortable Sunshine is with one paw draped over the front. One of the residents there rarely takes part in any activities, socializes minimally, and usually spends his days wandering alone. But it turns out that he is a dog lover! When Sunshine visits, he comes into the TV room, sits down, and plays with Sunshine along with everyone else! What a difference a Pet-Assisted Therapy visit makes!  Lucy Favorite, a Goldendoodle, reports: "Mom and I made our first Pet Assisted Therapy visit to Grace Manor on June 26th! There were many folks who fell in love with me. But one particular lady caught my eye. She is 100 years old and made me feel so very special. I can't wait to return!"
During one visit, I placed Pumpkin on the bed of a woman who had both of her legs amputated. Pumpkin lay patiently next to this woman, and tears ran down her face when the woman said "God must have known this is just what I needed today."
 Meet Rocky, Chip, and Clyde Glagola, all dressed up with someplace to go! These rescued pets are Pauline and Mike Glagola's Pet Assisted Therapy volunteers and visit at Residence at Hilltop.  I love my friends at Grace Manor! I thoroughly enjoy being a Pet-Assisted therapy dog with my mommy, Pat. - Dudley Connelly  Meet Princess and Mike Joyce and Birdie and Ruth Salvador. Both Princess and Birdie are Pet Assisted Therapy dogs and Mike and Ruth won Animal Friends’ 2009 PAT Mickey award! Congratulations!
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Wellness Activities Calling All Seniors! Come and enjoy a relaxing hour with some of our lovable pooches and kitties here at Animal Friends at "Cookies, Coffee and Creature Comforts." For a nominal fee of $5.00 a person (caregivers are free), your small group can enjoy a tour, light refreshments and one-on-one interaction with a pet in the quietness of our Classroom. Maximum number of people in the group: 6. “Cookies, Coffee and Creature Comforts” for seniors enable residents from assisted living facilities, social service programs and individual families to visit the Caryl Gates Gluck Resource Center to enjoy private interaction with our animals. This opportunity has been particularly beneficial for the caregivers of individuals living with autism or Alzheimer’s.
Special Adoption Programs Kittens 20 weeks or under: $50.00 "On January 9th, my life was enhanced with the addition of Princess. Originally named Judy Garland, this 12-year-old pug was one of the many animals brought in during the New Year's Eve Rescue. Deaf and with limited vision, she has begun to enjoy longer walks in the neighbohood and is a sweet and dear companion to her 16-year-old canine brother, Zeke. Princess does more than relax! She made her first Pet-Assisted Therapy visit to Verland on March 7th! She had a marvelous time meeting and greeting! Welcoming Princess has made my life complete! She is a joy! For Princess, the New Year's Eve Rescue has come full circle." - Michael Joyce, PAT volunteer
Beginning in February, 2003, 1,446 seniors have found companions through our Golden “Age” Retriever Program.
“The Candlelight Remembrance Services sponsored by Animal Friends offers us the opportunity to honor our animal companions and to work through our own sense of loss and grief at their passing from us. I have found these services to be truly rewarding and healing as we pay our tribute of love to their honor and memory and look to a future where we shall once again be in each other’s company.”
Contact Our Wellness Program Ann Cadman
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Pet Adoption & Resource Center | 562 Camp Horne Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237 | 412.847.7000 Come visit us! Monday - Friday 11am - 7pm | Saturday & Sunday 10 am - 5pm |
