Slow and Steady Companions

Therapy House strives to offer a variety of different animals, different species, to enlighten and broaden awareness to how amazingly capable so many different animals are.  Animals who have scales and shells can be affectionate and are highly capable of bonding to humans similar to that of other animal species.  It just takes more patience, undertansing and consistency. Reptiles are not the first species most people think of when they think of a therapy, emotional support or comfort animal. They are no exactly fluffy and cuddly, however, they do spark curiosity allowing people the ability to discover just how engaging these animals can be. 

Reptiles are often not as capable of the same type of emotional bond and human-pleasing behavior that domesticated dogs and cats possess.  That is acceptable and fine by us! Some people may consider this to be a negative aspect of a reptile for animal assisted therapy. However, Therapy House sees this from another angle. Many people naturally feel negative about reptiles, indifferent or even sacred. For a people to overcome "their fear of reptiles", and for that specific reptile to overcome it’s natural fear of large predators (like people!), takes a great deal of understanding, determination and resiliency. When you work hard towards something, small or large goals, the experience feels overly rewarding. Greater than expected! 

Domesticated animals, like dogs and cats, generally love just about anyone who will give them attention, affection and food. Engaging with reptiles is a process on both sides, the reptile and the person. For the most part reptiles must learn to overcome their instincts and trust their handler and the people who visit with them. 

Our Reptile and Furry Animal Program has some of the best trained Reptiles you will ever meet! We love them and you just MIGHT too!                                           

Therapy House has some of the most amazingly social and friendly reptiles and small furry animals. Each of these amazing animals were once animals taken into, cared for, and rehabilitated while at Créme de la Créme Animal Foundation.  One by one, they will prove to our visitors, as they do to our staff everyday, just how capable these unassuming little animals can be. They all have their own unique story as they were either abused, abandoned, and/or homeless animals from local areas around  Illinois or surrounding states.