The animals listen attentively as children read to them, lay a head on the shoulder of the infirm and ease the tension in a room full of anxious family.
Some years ago I would regularly take one of our dogs along to visit my father in his nursing home. I can attest to the bright moments doing so brought, not only to my dad, but to the various residents we encountered while we were there. Some facilities require that pets be certified, but we were fortunate in that as “family” — and being well behaved — we could bring ours without question.