Animal Interactions

While there are numerous species that can qualify as therapy, emotion and comfort animals, dogs are by far the most common animal of choice. When most people think about animal assisted therapy, they immediately picture a happy, well-trained dog in a special vest. However, this is not always the case. These animals come in all shapes, sizes, and species.

Interactions are conducted within a home-like setting, with an animal handler present. Each interaction has a limited number of visitors per session to allow for proper interaction experiences for each participant, reduce the possibility of overwhelming our animals (too many visitor at once can be overwhelming and stressful for animals). 

• Cat Interactions
• Dog Interactions 
• Reptiles Interactions 

The majority of our animals are from rescue situations. These animals were either abandoned by previous owners, found as strays, recovered from neglect/abuse situations, transfers from high-kill animal shelters, or breeder relinquishments. While being cared for at our animal rescue, one by one, all unique in their own manners, each of these animals have displayed exceptional temperaments over the time we have cared and housed them. Each animal demonstrates reliability, predictability and direct-ability. Some of the animals came to us with innately calm and social temperaments, while others are living with medical or physical disabilities making them more amicable, slower moving, hindering their natural responsiveness. Each of them, all having their own distinctive story -  have prove to be ideal candidates to work with people who are in need of comfort, companionship, acceptance, and healing. Our animals, by definition are theraputic agents as the function as therapy, emotional support and comfort animals.  

Therapy House offers companionship, mental and emotional support through the applications of animal assisted and interactions. 

Therapy House visitors are given a choice of animals for which they would like to interact with. Our animal population includes: cats, dogs, and reptiles.Interactions include petting, grooming, guiding, reading, communicating, and feeding. The unique bond between humans and animals allows for reciprocal actions. The mutual actions between a participant and the animal fosters the development of positive traits such as patience, respect, empathy, engagement, acceptance, confidence, assertiveness, responsibility and empowerment. 

Therapy House Foundation is a division of Créme de la Créme Animal Foundation, a registered Illinois 501(c)3 charitable organization.