At a psychiatric hospital on the outskirts of Paris, therapy donkeys are playing an unusual but structured role in helping patients manage mental health conditions, as part of France's public healthcare system.
Calm Setting for Therapy
The Ville-Evrard hospital complex in Neuilly-sur-Marne features 19th-century farm buildings and wooded surroundings, providing a calm environment for animal-assisted therapy sessions. On a recent Friday, patients walked five donkeys, groomed them, and cared for them. Some cleaned hooves, while others ended the session with hugs, according to the Associated Press.
Patient Perspectives
Nathalie, a 60-year-old patient, described the experience as akin to medication. "When you take medication that helps you relax ... it's exactly the same," she said. "I'd call it animal medicine. It brings relief. You stop thinking about everything else."
Patients attend the sessions free of charge as part of their treatment, which is funded by the public health system. They are typically paired with donkeys named Nono, Pitou, Oscar, Manolo, or Malraux, gradually learning each animal's behavior.
Visible Progress
Audrey Seffar, a nurse at the unit, noted visible progress in some patients. "At first, she wouldn't get out of the cart (provided for people with physical difficulties). But little by little, with encouragement, she did," Seffar said. "The animal serves as a mediator."
Another patient, Jerome, 52, said the sessions help reduce isolation. "Talking with people, taking part in activities I wouldn't normally do, it helps me in my daily life," he explained.
Program Expansion
The animal therapy unit, launched in 2016, was formally recognized as a healthcare service in 2022. It now includes nurses and volunteers and has expanded beyond donkeys to include guinea pigs, chickens, goats, turtles, and rabbits.
Benefits for Various Conditions
Staff say the approach supports patients with anxiety, depression, autism, and schizophrenia by improving emotional regulation and social interaction. "Donkeys are my best colleagues," a nurse remarked at the end of a session.
