Animal instinct by Sally Litchfield MDJ Features Editor sallylit@bellsouth.net 07.06.10 - 11:00 pm

Studies show that people who have pets live longer. At Arbor Terrace at West Cobb, located at 3829 Floyd Road in Austell, residents benefit from pet therapy. Each week at the assisted living and memory care community for seniors, different dogs are brought in to interact with residents. "It's a soothing thing and a chance to connect with an animal again," said Kathryn Trice, activity director. Trice, who began using pet therapy 14 years ago while working with seniors, said that benefits of visiting animals include diminishing emotional and physical pain and reducing boredom and loneliness. She said that according to studies pet therapy could do everything from lowering blood pressure to decreasing anxiety. "It (pet visits) can boost your mood," she said.

Pet therapy also helps residents with relationships because they talk with each other about the pets. "It encourages social interaction. It gives them something else to talk about," said Trice, who has worked with the elderly since 1979.

"(To) some people, (pet therapy) is the bright spot in their day. Their eyes light up. They're smiling. They love to pet fur and in some cases hold the animal," she said. "(A resident) might not want to reach out for an exercise class, but they'll reach out to pet the animal."

Pets also provide residents unconditional love. "Pets aren't going to judge whether you do something right or wrong. They aren't going to talk back to you," she said. "(Pets) are just less intimidating. That's one of the reasons that they're so successful." Arbor Terrace understands the importance that pets play in the lives of people and in creating a homelike situation. A few residents even house their own pets. "I've seen the benefits of pet therapy," she said. "It's a wonderful thing." For more information on Arbor Terrace at West Cobb, visit www.at-westcobb.com or call (678) 444-4803 © mdjonline.com 2010