Pets as Therapy

Student volunteers with Pets as Therapy bring dogs to visit the residents at the nursing home each week. These dogs belong to members of the community at Cambridge, such as Harvard University’s faculty and staff. The purpose of bringing dogs to visit is two-fold: Firstly, many of the residents at the nursing home are fond of dogs, and hence our visits aim to bring them joy and relaxation through interactions with the dogs. Additionally, the dogs also serve as a starting point for the formation of deeper relationships between Harvard student volunteers and the people at the nursing home. Through the interactions with our dogs, CRANC residents can, at the same time, get to know the students accompanying them. This fosters stronger bonds and friendships between the student volunteers and the residents, and alleviate the loneliness that several of the residents feel at the nursing home due to the dearth of social interactions. Ultimately, Pets as Therapy strives foster connections between students and CRANC residents who would not have met otherwise.