NEUILLY-SUR-MARNE, France (AP) 鈥� Therapy donkeys are helping patients with mental health conditions recover in a psychiatric hospital unit outside Paris that’s unique to .
The 19th century farm buildings and wooded surroundings are a haven within the Ville-Evrard hospital complex in Neuilly-sur-Marne. On Friday, patients took the five donkeys for a walk and cared for them. Some confidently lifted their hooves to remove dirt. Many ended the session with a hug.
The couple behind the program say more scientific evaluation is needed of , which is practiced around the world. They would like it to be formally recognized by the psychiatric community as a complementary form of care, citing their experience with patients and caregivers.
鈥淚t brings relief,” said Nathalie, a 60-year-old patient. 鈥樷�橸ou stop thinking about everything else.” She and others were identified by their first names only in accordance with French medical privacy rules.
鈥業t helps you break away from the routine of treatment鈥�
Patients attend the sessions free of charge as part of their treatment, which is funded by France鈥檚 public health system.
Participants are usually paired with a donkey 鈥� Nono, Pitou, Oscar, Manolo or Malraux. Over time, they become familiar with each other鈥檚 personalities.
Audrey Seffar, a nurse at the animal therapy unit, said Nathalie’s progress after only a few sessions was significant.
鈥淎t first, she wouldn鈥檛 get out of the cart (provided for people with physical difficulties). But little by little, with encouragement, she did,” Seffar said. “The animal serves as a mediator. It鈥檚 such an extraordinary one that today she was able to leave the cart and stand beside her donkey.”
Another patient, J茅r么me, 52, said the program helps reduce his loneliness.
鈥淭alking with people, taking part in activities I wouldn鈥檛 normally do, it helps me in my daily life,鈥� he said.
He added, 鈥淚t helps you break away from the routine of treatment and medication. Staying at home isn鈥檛 good for me.鈥�
鈥楾hey鈥檙e emotional sponges鈥�
The first donkeys arrived at Ville-Evrard hospital in 2016 as part of a project launched by Ermelinda and Fran莽ois Hadey.
Ermelinda, a nurse specializing in psychiatry, strongly believed in animal therapy benefits and thought donkeys, known for their calm and social nature, would be perfect. Her husband learned how to train donkeys for therapy work. Some of the animals were adopted through shelters after experiencing neglect or mistreatment.
鈥淎 donkey is very intelligent. It understands things very quickly, but you have to explain slowly,鈥� Fran莽ois Hadey said. 鈥淒onkeys are calm, serene animals that are generally close to people. Once they鈥檙e involved in these interactions, they connect very well with patients. They鈥檙e emotional sponges.鈥�
Since 2022, the animal therapy program has had official status as a healthcare unit in the hospital, allowing it to employ three full-time nurses. Volunteers with a nonprofit group help care for the animals.
The program has expanded to include guinea pigs, chickens, doves, goats, turtles and rabbits. Sessions are tailored to people鈥檚 needs and preferences, and smaller animals can be brought to hospital rooms.
Alicia Fabi, an 18-year-old nursing student, said the activity gives patients a chance to leave the hospital environment.
鈥淓very time we come back from the activity, they say they feel good, calm and relaxed, and that they enjoyed the outing. That鈥檚 really positive,鈥� she said.
Walking together also allows patients and health workers to develop a deeper relationship.
鈥淲e talk about many different things, their illness, their lives and just about everything else. We don鈥檛 focus only on the illness because we don鈥檛 want them dwelling on it all the time,鈥� Fabi said.
They seek research into the benefits
Health workers say the sessions are designed as therapeutic interventions for living with anxiety, , autism, schizophrenia or other conditions. Staff said they can help improve emotional regulation, communication, social interaction and self-esteem.
鈥淓verything we do with the animals allows us to work with the patient,鈥� Ermelinda Hadey said. 鈥淲e work on feeding the animal, which helps us address the patient鈥檚 own eating habits. We work on the animal鈥檚 hygiene, and by mirror effect, we work on the patient鈥檚 hygiene as well.鈥�
Many patients take intensive treatments, including antipsychotic medications or sedatives, which can make it difficult to find the motivation to participate in activities, she said. That鈥檚 where the relationship to donkeys and other animals play a role, she stressed.
鈥淚t does not replace a doctor or a medical prescription, but it can help patients regain confidence and a sense of self-worth,” Hadey said.
To get animal therapy formally recognized, she said, 鈥樷�橶e need research. We have plenty of accounts from patients … Caregivers who accompany them see the benefits every day as well. But doctors have so many other responsibilities that they don鈥檛 necessarily witness it firsthand.”
At the end of Friday鈥檚 session, as patients chatted, a nurse summed up the program鈥檚 appeal: 鈥淒onkeys are my best colleagues.鈥�
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
