Montana woman uses chickens as therapy animals
 

Montana woman uses chickens as therapy animals
AP posted: 1 DAY 4 HOURS AGO

POLSON, Mont. -Therapy dogs can be a comfort for seniors and those recovering from illnesses and injuries. So how about therapy chickens? Jana Clairmont of Polson, Mont., calls her therapy birds — a white rooster and Cornish game hen — "Fowl Play."

On Thursday, she took them to visit residents at Polson Health and Rehabilitation Center in northeast Montana.

Many seniors were raised on farms, Clairmont says, and holding a chicken can bring back memories.

As one man stroked the rooster, Alex, the bird stretched out his neck and rested it across the man's forearm, like a puppy.

Clairmont has arranged visits to retirement and assisted living homes, and says she'd like to take Alex and Carlita, the hen, into classrooms this fall.
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Information from: Missoulian, Missoulian: News and Resources for Western Montana
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Montana woman uses chickens as therapy animals