Dog therapy, also known as pet therapy or Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT), is a psychological therapy that utilises the connection between humans and animals to bring about change and healing. In AAT, animals are specifically trained and integrated into treatment to improve physical, emotional and cognitive functions among clients. Like any other form of therapy, AAT is also goal-directed and can be used in the treatment of various issues such as stress, anxiety, depression, etc.
Dogs and horses are the most commonly used animals in Animal Assisted Therapy, but other animals, such as cats, can also be trained to provide therapeutic benefits. In this article, we’ll look at dog therapy providers in the city of Mumbai.
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Animal Angels Foundation
.Animal Angels Foundation is India’s largest registered non-profit organization focused on Human-Animal Interaction and Animal Assisted Interventions. They have an extensive team of trained therapy dogs, pet parents, volunteers, and mental health professionals who have been providing programs based on human-animal interaction for the past 14 years. While they primarily operate their physical centre in Pune, they provide dog therapy in partnership with various hospitals and schools in Mumbai.
The Animal Angels Foundation currently provides dog therapy services in at least 10 different special schools in Thane, Sion Vile-Parle, Andheri and other areas of Mumbai. Apart from schools, they also provide dog therapy sessions at Wockhardt Hospital in Mumbai. All the therapy sessions that they provide are facilitated by a trained therapist along with trained dogs.
Website Link: https://animalangels.org.in/
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Pawkies Mumbai
Pawkies is primarily a dog daycare and boarding place where people can not only find the best care for their dogs but also enjoy therapy sessions and cuddle time with them. Currently, Pawkies has 3 trained therapy dogs, as mentioned on their website. Each of their therapy sessions lasts for 2 hours and can be a great way to relieve stress, improve blood circulation and leave you in a positive mood. They currently provide their services primarily to schools and corporations only on a prior appointment basis. They have their centre in Borivali West.
Website Link: https://www.pawkies.in/
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Manav Foundation
Manav Foundation is a rehabilitation centre in Mumbai that focuses on helping people with mental illnesses. They offer animal-assisted therapy sessions with the help of dogs. These sessions are facilitated in collaboration with the Animal Angels Foundation mentioned above. The goal of these sessions is to create a safe and non-judgmental environment for people by using therapy dogs with the eventual aim of improving their cognitive functioning, contributing to their recovery,
Link: https://www.manavfoundation.org.in/
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Pawfect Life, Andheri East
Like Pawkies, Pawfect Life is a pet boarding and petting centre in Andheri. They allow people to spend time with dogs at their centre and conduct corporate dog therapy sessions as well.
Instagram Link:https://www.instagram.com/pawfect_life_mumbai/tagged/?hl=en
It is important to note that the above information is based on our research, and we do not have any association or personal experience with the above-mentioned organizations. Thus, it is advisable to conduct your own research before opting for any dog therapy services.
Interested in learning more about pets and mental health? Click here to read our article about the mental health benefits of having a pet
References:
- MANAV FOUNDATION. (n.d.). MANAV FOUNDATION. Retrieved October 10, 2024, from https://www.manavfoundation.org.in/
- Paleja, K. (2023, July 7). Pawkies Dogs Cuddle Therapy | Dogs Daycare & Boarding | Mumbai. Pawkies. https://www.pawkies.in
- Pawfect Life (@pawfect_life_mumbai) • Instagram photos and videos. (n.d.). Retrieved October 10, 2024, from https://www.instagram.com/pawfect_life_mumbai/
- www.webmandesign.eu, W.-. (n.d.). Animal Angels Foundation. Animal Angels Foundation. Retrieved October 10, 2024, from http://animalangels.org.in/
