Therapy dogs bring down stress level at the Legislature

Animal Protection Voters raise animal awareness

One of the most effective ways to improve the lives of New Mexico’s animals is to help enact laws that protect them now and in the future. The Roundhouse is the place where that kind of systemic change happens. On Tuesday, Feb. 2, Animal Protection Voters (APV) came to the New Mexico legislative session with three therapy dogs, who participate in The Animal Connection program. This program, along with all of Animal Protection of New Mexico and APV’s initiatives, strives to create systemic change for the humane treatment of animals. When children are taught how to treat animals humanely, they also learn to treat people with compassion. They grow up into voters who care deeply for animals, people and the community. This is why APV is in both the classrooms and the Roundhouse.

The dogs in the Roundhouse brought much needed stress-relief to those working hard in the Roundhouse during this 30-day session.

ABOVE: Dogs can help reduce stress in adults. Rico, a therapy dog that participates in The Animal Connection’s “Read to Rico” lesson, elicits smiles from everyone he meets, including Marisa Sleeter.

RIGHT: Can I sign, too? Even therapy dog Dennis was so concerned about killing contests that he wanted to sign APV’s petition to ban killing contests in the state of New Mexico.