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As a therapist, I’ve always believed in thinking outside the box. The traditional office setting might work for some, but let’s be real—not everyone (especially kids and teens) needs the usual clinical vibe. That’s where my “accidental therapists” come in: a lovable crew of animals who somehow found their way into my practice and changed everything.
It all started with a tortoise. My grandson Jayden, who was 8 at the time and obsessed with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, had sparked the idea. So, naturally, I reached out to Jon Schumacher, an animal lover extraordinaire, and asked, “Can you help me find a tortoise?” Well, you know what they say—be careful what you ask for! Jon showed up with Woody, a tortoise who quickly became a member of the family—and, as it turns out, my first unofficial assistant. Did I know anything about tortoises at the time? Nope! I had no clue I couldn’t fertilize the yard, use pesticides, or that Woody needed shelter when it got colder than 45 degrees. But Woody came with his own list of demands—shed, insulation, a heater, and plenty of greens to munch on.
After Woody, things really snowballed. Dexter, my beloved golden retriever, passed away, and Jayden and I hit the road to pick up Ivy, our next golden. Then, I asked Jayden, “Hey, want to get a baby chick?”—and before I knew it, we were bringing home four. Next, a trip to Canton introduced us to Henry, a lop-eared bunny we just couldn’t resist. Soon, I had adopted two feral cats who needed a home, and finally, we added Sky, Ivy’s sister, to the mix.
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