Therapy animals bring holiday joy

Masked man holds toddler beside small white pony in festive harness
White and brown dogs in red holiday coats with badges
Child pets small pony while a masked adult watches
Dog in Santa collar shakes paw with masked veterinarian

Therapy dogs – and a mini-horse! – from UCLA Health’s People-Animal-Connection (PAC) program brought holiday cheer to patients and staff at UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center.

Everyone who stopped by for the celebration enjoyed playing with the animals and listening to festive holiday music.

The PAC program’s goal is to enhance physical healing and emotional well-being through the animals’ instinctive bond with people of all ages, cultures and languages.

More than 60 animals – and their human volunteers – make about 1,000 in-person or video visits to UCLA Health patients and health care workers each month.

Photos by Joshua Sudock/UCLA Health

JS 2 holding small white dog outdoors, wearing a face mask
Young boy smiling at fluffy dog with bandana
Two people with small horses wearing holiday coats on a park path