The Pet Encounter Therapy (P.E.T.) program brings the unconditional love and tactile benefits of animals to people in facilities such as abused children’s shelters, hospitals, psychiatric facilities, and senior centers. Groups also have the option to visit the Center for on-site programs. Staff and volunteers take dogs, rabbits, birds, or guinea pigs to visit more than 45 facilities a month, with many organizations on our waiting list. Studies document that holding and caressing an animal provides benefits such as relaxation, lower blood pressure, improved long- and short-term memory, and sensory stimuli.