Animal Interactions Bring Happiness

In Sunnyvale, California, there’s a sanctuary. It is a magical place where the chaos of life is on pause. It is at this place, The Smile Farm presented by Animal Assisted Happiness, that Layla’s parents experienced their daughter’s transformation.

Layla, a three year old youth diagnosed with autism and facing challenges with sensory processing and emotional regulation, first began her monthly visits to the AAH Smile Farm in December 2022. When she began attending with her parents, she was a frightened and overwhelmed visitor, resistant to interacting with staff or any of the animals. Any unpredictable movement or sound was frightening for Layla. The consistent staff members, who worked with her each time she visited, and her parents encouraged her to explore and to take the lead as to the pace and breadth of her experience.

Their first visit found Layla not wanting to go near any animal without being held by her parents, and even then, only at a distance. She made it very clear that she did not want to be anywhere near the (noisy) birds nor any of the (unpredictable) larger animals, such as goats or miniature horses.??

At monthly visit three, she was sitting with and petting the small animals, such as the rabbits and guinea pigs, tolerating being near the birds (with noise canceling headphones), and standing near the goat yard fence without running away. She had come to love Charlie, the 15 year old Sulcata Tortoise, likely because he was reliably quiet and slow moving. She was allowed to stay with him as long as she wanted and would often return to him in between seeing the other animals, perhaps as a sort of security blanket.

By the fifth and sixth visits, Layla was openly expressing her love and singing songs to Charlie, holding the rabbits and guinea pigs, instigating entrance into the goat and chicken pens, petting and singing songs with the miniature horses, and even engaged in prolonged eye contact with an alpaca! All of this was led by her own initiative. Another wonder at visit six was that Layla made her preference clear that she wanted staff member Claire Woo to carry her into the horse pen.? It brought so much? joy as it seemed a clear sign of her progress toward trusting the world in which she lives.?

The theme throughout her experience, co-created by staff and parents, was a deliberate focus upon her abilities instead of upon her disabilities! And as the monthly visits progressed, she began to explore the farm yard with increasing joy and curiosity. The once terrifying animals are now her beloved friends; and the once fear of anything new and unpredictable now seems tolerable, maybe even fun.?

Perhaps Layla and her experience at The AAHSmile Farm has some important messages for us. For example, patience most often leads to trust, focus on ability vs disability most often leads to confidence and success, and opportunities to connect gently, gradually, and intentionally most often lead to long lasting progress. There is a good chance that these experiences will lead her to greater bonding with others throughout a lifetime.

AAH Smile Farm manager, Kira Petroff, explains that the farm is a kind of hidden escape where youth with needs and their parents can relax and enjoy the peaceful presence that these animals create. They can sit quietly and pet a chicken for hours if they want to, or run around the farm with exuberance. Either way, it is like a kind of medicine with no negative side effects.??

Why is this important? Perhaps in today's fast paced and technologically saturated world, many people experience stimulation overload as well as a rapidly declining connection with one another and with nature. Because many people have lost touch with the calm and centeredness that nature provides, varying levels of stress result. Connection to other people who are loving and supportive, and to the vast patience found in nature can create the sense of calm and centeredness needed to exchange the “stress hormones” for “happy hormones” According to UCLA Health, 2021, these hormones (Serotonin, Oxytocin, and Prolactin) are released into the bloodstream when one feels peaceful and happy. This hormone release has been shown to decrease depression, anxiety, and agitation, to boost the immune system, and support good overall mental and physical health. And according to Husson University, 2022, Animal-Assisted therapy improves an individual's self-esteem and social skills, reduces anxiety, depression and grief, and improves focus and self control.?

As stated by Claire Woo, assistant program manager at Animal Assisted Happiness, connection is one of the most important sensations one will experience at Smile Farm. Connecting with nature is calming and centering. Woo states she has seen the phenomenon many times where a youth who visits the farm for monthly visits transforms from being resistant to staff and animal interactions to instigating these interactions with curiosity and even joy.

Animal Assisted Happiness’ Smile Farm offers not only a refuge from everyday life and its stressors, but a retreat! This safe haven is complete with unconditionally loving animals of all shapes and sizes, supportive and experienced staff, a colorful, clean, well cared-for environment, a calm and peaceful pace, and even a magical fairy garden. Come and experience your own personal transformation.?

To learn more about Animal Assisted Happiness’ programs for youth with needs, visit animalassistedhappiness.org. There are a variety of options to experience the farm.

The AAH Smile Farm is open to the public on the second Sunday of every month and Tuesday afternoons from 1 to 5pm. It is located in Baylands Park in Sunnyvale, CA.

Article written by Arie Dixon.