Pigs being used as therapy pets in aged care homes and airports
There’s nothing more adorable than a tiny piglet, but now these mammals are finding a niche market gaining traction as therapy pets. From airports to aged care facilities, pigs are paving the way to happiness.
NSW
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Therapy dogs have been helping calm people’s nerves for several years. Now one woman is hoping her novel approach using pigs brings home the bacon instead.
In the northern NSW town of Kyogle, Tinky Watts from Petite Piggies is breeding miniature pigs, many of which are sold as therapy pets or emotional support animals for children with autism or anxiety. Her own pet, aptly named Piglet, is put to work as a therapy pet as well.
“I take Piglet to the local aged care facility and the local special needs school. Piglet is adorable, quite human and quirky. With the elderly, it’s the dementia patients that resonate with him, same with the kids because these animals are in the here and now and just want to be patted and loved,” Ms Watts told The Sunday Telegraph.
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Therapy pigs are now employed in San Francisco International Airport as part of the “Wag Brigade” program to cheer passengers up and help ease travel anxieties.
The word is some Australian airports are making inquiries as well.
In Australia only guide dogs are covered by legislation that allows them to go on public transport. Therapy or emotional assistance animals are not allowed in some public areas or on public transport, but they can go into schools and aged care facilities if invited and with their owner.
Therapy pets are not controlled by any legislation, unlike in the US, where “emotional support animals” are legalled allowed in many public areas and can fly in the cabin — even sitting on their owner’s laps.
In Kyogle, these porky pets sell for $700 a pop but clients are not complaining.
Traci Parsons bought one for her son Braiden who has Asperger’s and ADHD.
Petey the pig has made a big difference in Braiden’s life in the past 12 months.
“Braiden’s a kid who doesn’t go outside much, but Petey gets him outside and has really brought him out of himself,” Mrs Parsons said.
“He’s a totally different kid. He’d stay in his room, but now he is going out with friends and socialising. I think Petey has been a major help.”
Braiden, 19, credits Petey for making life calmer.
“I love Petey, he’s the best pet I have ever had. He is easy to talk to and he just follows me around or chases me. I feel good and I feel calm when he is around,” he said.
Originally published as Pigs being used as therapy pets in aged care homes and airports