LITTLETON – When we hear of therapy animals, oftentimes, we think of therapy dogs.
But there's a new breed of animal hamming it up in hospitals and nursing homes around Denver. They are miniature pot-bellied pigs.
Every weekend, Pumba and Boris the one-year-old potbellied pigs visit with seniors living with Alzheimer's at Highline Place in Littleton.
Owner Erin Brinkley-Burgardt says while her pigs enjoy the limelight, they like giving attention to those needing a little extra love.
“They go up to anyone holding a carrot,” joked Brinkley-Burgardt. “They really love all the attention they get here.”
Boris and Pumba make their way around the halls of Highline place in a little green wagon. Brinkley-Burgardt says the residents are always a little shocked when they first arrive, but warm up to the pigs quickly.
“It just takes the first person to warm up—then everyone else is like 'oh ok! I'll try it!'” said Brinkley-Burgardt.”The residents won't always remember the pigs—so it's really like a new experience every week—and it's a different experience every week—which is great!”
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Source: USA Today
