It has been proven that pets can have positive effects on people's health, both mental and physical, which is why pet therapy has become a popular practice at places like Ronald McDonald house.

Keltie English has been bringing her three-year-old labradoodle Maiya to Halifax’s Ronald McDonald House since last fall.

“It's like having a rock star on a leash,” says English. “We come in the door and it's ‘Maiya!’ once they get to know her.”

Their visits are part of the pet therapy program that allows families to spend quality time with canine volunteers.

“Often many of them have pets that they of course can't bring with them when they're receiving treatment here in Halifax,” says Beth MacDonald, family services coordinator. “So it's just one more way that we provide comforts of home to our families is by having a pet come to them.”

MacDonald says response to the program has been very positive.

“For a kid to be able to just lay down next to Maiya and just take a break and even as a little distraction from what might be going on in their lives, it's incredible the impact that it's had,” says MacDonald.

Elizabeth Paul is living at the house with her family while her four-year-old daughter Zamirra undergoes treatment at the IWK Health Centre.

“It helps bring that little bit of joy and helps them to forget a little bit of why we're here,” says Paul. “It brings back that sense of childhood feeling.”

Paul says the four-legged volunteers sense how the kids are feeling.

“The dog almost goes into like a 'ahhh' moment, you know what I mean, of calm and it just lays there and kind of is just part of the moment. It knows that it doesn't need to like interact as much. Just its presence is enough for her healing,” says Paul.

English says the benefits of pet therapy have been scientifically proven in adults, lowering blood pressure and stress hormone levels.

“With kids, it's harder to tell, but I mean they start smiling and giggling and laughing when they were just sitting worrying about stuff,” says English. “So it totally takes them away from the moment and they get to just giggle and laugh and play with a dog and have fun.”

The people we spoke to at Ronald McDonald house said it's not just the kids who have benefitted from the pet therapy program, parents enjoy the relaxing effects as well.