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Child in a wheelchair smiles and pets a Creature Comfort therapy dog.

About Us

Creature Comfort Pet Therapy embraces a hands-on approach by structuring and scheduling visits for a variety of facilities to guarantee their effectiveness for the clients we serve. Our certified volunteer therapy teams are made up of private owners or handlers and their loving pets, including dogs, cats, rabbits, or guinea pigs. Therapy teams choose from a variety of recurring and one-time visits to these partner facilities which include nursing homes, schools and colleges, libraries, hospitals, children’s services, hospice, mental health centers, courthouses, veterans programs and more.

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Mission Statement

To enhance people's lives through therapeutic visits with caring volunteers and their pets.

Vision Statement

To provide caring volunteers dedicated to sharing their pet’s love by engaging people in a variety of community settings. To build connections between volunteers and facilities seeking animal assisted activities and therapy. To increase awareness and provide education about the many benefits of pet therapy.
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About Creature Comfort Pet Therapy

Volunteers

Our therapy teams consist of one volunteer and one pet (mostly dogs, but we also have cats, rabbits and guinea pigs in the program). The teams pass a comprehensive test (evaluating the pet’s obedience and temperament) followed by an assessment visit and mentorship from experienced staff. They commit to doing therapeutic visits at least once a month at partnering sites.

Become a Pet Therapy Team
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Our Annual Impact

260

+

Active Therapy Teams

5700

Pet Therapy Visits

335

Sites Visited

9

New Jersey Counties

140000

Lives Touched

Dogs
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Benefits of Pet Therapy

Interaction with a gentle, friendly animal has been shown to have significant benefits

Physical Health

  • Lowers blood pressure
  • Improves cardiovascular health
  • Releases endorphins that have a calming effect
  • Diminishes overall physical pain
  • Act of petting produces an automatic relaxation response

Reading Programs for Children

  • Helps children focus better
  • Improves literacy skills
  • Provides non-stressful, non-judgmental environment
  • Increases self-confidence

Mental Health

  • Lifts spirits and lessens depression
  • Decreases feelings of isolation
  • Encourages communication
  • Provides comfort
  • Increases socialization
  • Reduces boredom
  • Lowers anxiety
  • Helps children overcome speech and emotional disorders
  • Creates motivation to recover faster

Physical or Occupational Therapy

  • Increases joint movement and improves recovery time
  • Maintains or increases motor skills
  • Provides motivation to move more, stretch farther, exercise longer
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