More than 22,000 new babies are welcomed into the world each year at the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem.
Now, Mazal Tov! — three more births in the amazing animal therapy room at the new Wilf Children’s Hospital.
The Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem became the first general hospital in Israel to adopt a program in Animal Assisted Therapy also known as Zoo Therapy or Pet Therapy. Using domesticated animals to help children deal with the emotional challenges that come with having to stay in hospital.
The philosophy behind Pet Therapy is simple, yet the results can be truly dramatic. It offers an emotional outlet for patients, who build a special bond with the animals helping them to escape the pain and discomfort that comes with being in hospital.
The sheer joy that these animals bring to the children in the pediatric departments is wonderful, and important to their recovery.
