April 30 is ‘National Therapy Animal Day’ in Pottstown, Royersford

Pottstown Mayor Stephanie A. Henrick and Royersford Mayor Jenna Antoniewicz provided their stamp of approval to proclaim April 30, 2021, as National Therapy Animal Day.

The National Therapy Animal Day proclamation was requested by Annalisa Smithson, LPC, NCC of Unleashed Counseling, a local mental health organization that specializes in treating anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, and eating disorders with practices such as play therapy (with Benji the Therapy Dog), walk & talk therapy, and art therapy.

Therapy animals and their handlers are known for bringing comfort and healing to people of all ages in various settings including hospitals, schools, assisted living facilities, and in hospice care. They interact with people from all walks of life including veterans, seniors, students facing challenges, and those approaching the end of life. Therapy animal teams serving in communities across the United States and in the Borough of Pottstown play an essential role in improving human health and wellbeing through the human-animal bond.

Mayor Henrick “encourages our citizens to celebrate our therapy animals and their human handlers” on April 30, 2021, now officially proclaimed as National Therapy Animal Day.