Animals as Natural Therapy

Joy! Joy! Joy! ❤️

These excited kids got the chance to hang out with a sweet animal from Animals as Natural Therapy, an intergenerational event at Laurel Forest for Residents and Preschool kids, planned by Whatcom Homeless Service Center's Community Engagement Coordinator. 😍

Kelsy is raising money for the Carry it Forward campaign. Read her story here:

I may be biased, but rabbits are the best. There is something special about sitting down with a rabbit in your lap and feeling the softness of their fur beneath your hands. Over the years, I’ve seen countless difficult moments eased by a good rabbit snuggle.

This quarter, one of our youth participants has been navigating anxiety, low confidence, and the unique challenges that come with being neurodivergent. They enjoy spending time with all of the animals in our program, but the horses can sometimes feel overwhelming. However, whenever we spend time with the rabbits, a noticeable calm settles over this participant. After one time spent cuddling Snow, they shared, “I am so relaxed working with the bunnies, I could have just fallen asleep.”

Positive interactions with animals have been shown to lower heart rate, reduce stress hormones like cortisol, and help regulate the nervous system. For this participant, Snow creates a space where they can relax, let their guard down, and just be themselves. When life feels challenging, having a place where you feel calm, accepted, and connected can become an anchor and a sanctuary for the participants to look forward to every week-one fuzzy snuggle at a time.

Click here to give: https://givebutter.com/ant-carry-it-forward/ANT-team-bunny/kelsyhartmann

Limited spots just became available for this Thursday's Barnyard Break! July 9, 4-5:30.

Head to animalsasnaturaltherapy.org/barnyard-break/ to sn**ch your tickets now!

Womp womp... our Carry It Forward fundraiser is lagging a bit. Here are three quick steps you can take to help us meet our $30,000 goal and stay afloat this summer!

- Share the campaign: visit https://givebutter.com/ant-carry-it-forward and click the icons to share via social media, email, or text.
- Become a fundraiser: visit https://givebutter.com/ant-carry-it-forward and click the "Fundraise" or "Become a Fundraiser" button, then write your ANT story (why do you believe in ANT?) and share your page with your community.
- Make a donation: even $10 helps us get momentum toward our goal!

Summer is a tight season for us financially, and every little bit helps us continue to provide life-changing moments of animal connection across our community!