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Animal visits provide joy, comfort

A therapy dog interacts with seniors, bringing joy and companionship.
VIP Dog Teams pays a visit to our Adult Day Center.
Four people and three dogs in a room, possibly at a vet or pet event. Everyone seems happy and relaxed.
VIP Dog Teams pays a visit to our Adult Day Center.
An elderly man and a white fluffy dog face to face, with a person's arm holding the dog's leash.
VIP Dog Teams pays a visit to our Adult Day Center.
Two women and a happy dog in a therapy session; one woman is seated touching the dog, another stands smiling.
VIP Dog Teams pays a visit to our Adult Day Center.
A smiling elderly man sitting, a woman, and a chocolate Labrador in a green vest possibly in a therapy or care setting.
VIP Dog Teams pays a visit to our Adult Day Center.
A man with a badge labeled "BOB" is holding a hairless guinea pig eating parsley.
The Little Zoo brings joy and connection with their creatures.
A man with a name tag labeled "BILL" is holding a fluffy rabbit on a star-patterned towel.
The Little Zoo brings joy and connection with their creatures.
A woman petting a lizard on a polka-dot cloth; another person's hand is visible.
The Little Zoo brings joy and connection with their creatures.
An elderly person, an adult, and a child interact with a guinea pig held in a blanket.
The Little Zoo brings joy and connection with their creatures.
An elderly woman petting a guinea pig on her lap.
The Little Zoo brings joy and connection with their creatures.
An older man holding a tortoise on a patterned blue towel on his lap in a room with other people.
The Little Zoo brings joy and connection with their creatures.
Two people admiring a small turtle on a blue polka-dot blanket.
The Little Zoo brings joy and connection with their creatures.
May contain: clothing, pants, animal, canine, dog, mammal, pet, adult, male, man, person, couch, and furniture
Love on a Leash - Pleasant Valley stops by monthly with their canine friends.
May contain: animal, canine, dog, mammal, and pet
Love on a Leash - Pleasant Valley stops by monthly with their canine friends.
May contain: adult, female, person, woman, clothing, hat, face, head, photography, portrait, sun hat, animal, canine, dog, mammal, pet, footwear, shoe, glove, and puppy
Love on a Leash - Pleasant Valley stops by monthly with their canine friends.
May contain: adult, male, man, person, animal, canine, dog, mammal, and pet
Love on a Leash - Pleasant Valley stops by monthly with their canine friends.
May contain: wood, adult, female, person, woman, plywood, clothing, footwear, shoe, male, man, chair, furniture, floor, pants, animal, canine, dog, mammal, pet, accessories, glasses, wristwatch, flooring, hat, bag, and handbag
Love on a Leash - Pleasant Valley stops by monthly with their canine friends.
May contain: person, adult, male, man, clothing, hat, female, woman, couch, and furniture
Love on a Leash - Pleasant Valley stops by monthly with their canine friends.
A therapy dog interacts with seniors, bringing joy and companionship.
Four people and three dogs in a room, possibly at a vet or pet event. Everyone seems happy and relaxed.
An elderly man and a white fluffy dog face to face, with a person's arm holding the dog's leash.
Two women and a happy dog in a therapy session; one woman is seated touching the dog, another stands smiling.
A smiling elderly man sitting, a woman, and a chocolate Labrador in a green vest possibly in a therapy or care setting.
A man with a badge labeled "BOB" is holding a hairless guinea pig eating parsley.
A man with a name tag labeled "BILL" is holding a fluffy rabbit on a star-patterned towel.
A woman petting a lizard on a polka-dot cloth; another person's hand is visible.
An elderly person, an adult, and a child interact with a guinea pig held in a blanket.
An elderly woman petting a guinea pig on her lap.
An older man holding a tortoise on a patterned blue towel on his lap in a room with other people.
Two people admiring a small turtle on a blue polka-dot blanket.
May contain: clothing, pants, animal, canine, dog, mammal, pet, adult, male, man, person, couch, and furniture
May contain: animal, canine, dog, mammal, and pet
May contain: adult, female, person, woman, clothing, hat, face, head, photography, portrait, sun hat, animal, canine, dog, mammal, pet, footwear, shoe, glove, and puppy
May contain: adult, male, man, person, animal, canine, dog, mammal, and pet
May contain: wood, adult, female, person, woman, plywood, clothing, footwear, shoe, male, man, chair, furniture, floor, pants, animal, canine, dog, mammal, pet, accessories, glasses, wristwatch, flooring, hat, bag, and handbag
May contain: person, adult, male, man, clothing, hat, female, woman, couch, and furniture

The Adult Day Center at Camarillo Health Care District was filled with oohs, ahhs and gentle cooing as fluffy tales wagged and gazes met.

In mid-August we had three visits from animal therapy organizations.

We met Marigold, a citrus-bearded dragon;  Topaz, a blue-tongued skink; Poppy, a lionhead bunny; Pippin, a red-footed tortoise and other creatures from The Little Zoo, as well as a half-dozen lovable dogs from VIP Dog Teams and Love on a Leash.

A woman in a plaid shirt and black hat holding a guinea pig.
Erin Maxick, founder of The Little Zoo.

The Little Zoo's animals provided sensory and cognitive stimulation, as well as delight, for our clients as they learned all about the animals while the creatures were passed around.

Love on a Leash and VIP Dog Teams brought love and support through their Community Meet and Greet programs. These therapy dogs are trained to interact with people and their surroundings under the guidance of their owners. The overall goal is to promote the health and wellness benefits of animal assisted therapy. 

Our licensed Adult Day Center provides safe, respectful, and compassionate option for adults who benefit from additional care during the day due to health conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, brain injury, decreasing mobility, isolation or loneliness. 

Our Center is the only one of its kind in the Camarillo area and receives clients from throughout Ventura County. In 2014, the Center was expanded and redesigned with a person-centered focus and to reflect a home-like environment, with an open-concept living room, kitchen and dining area, game rooms, indoor gardening beds, gathering space with a piano for entertaining, and a special quiet space.  In 2015, it received “Innovative Program of the Year” throughout the state of California from the California Special Districts Association.

The Center is a social model that focuses on providing socialization, mental and physical activities that can be enjoyable for everyone. 

“The Center touches so many lives on a daily basis and we see that in action each time families refer other families to the Center,” Adult Day Program Director Mary Ann Ratto said. “It’s very heartwarming to hear families speak of the Center as ‘the greatest blessing’ and ‘so wonderful’.”

Learn more on our website.

An elderly man and a white fluffy dog face to face, with a person's arm holding the dog's leash.
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