Animal Assisted Happiness Smile Farm visited MVHS at the rally court during lunch on May 20, bringing a variety of barnyard animals to campus ahead of finals week. Different breeds of rabbits lounged on the pet beds while guinea pigs mingled together in groups of two or three alongside chickens and a grass-loving goat. The event drew a large crowd of students and staff who were looking for some stress relief as finals week approached, or who just wanted to have a quick pet.
According to Assistant Program Manager Molly Knott, the organization regularly visits schools, hospitals and daycare facilities across the Bay Area to provide pet therapy and emotional support through interactions with the animals.
“This is my second time on this campus leading our mobile visit,” Knott said. “Our mission is to spread smiles to youth with needs through our barnyard animals, who provide pet therapy. And we were here last year for a mobile stress relief visit, and it was fantastic, so we were very happy to be back here to visit the students, and to provide stress relief before finals.”
Junior Naomi Lyn took her interests for the event to volunteer and become a Youth Ambassador for AAH, and since then, she has volunteered several times to help oversee student interactions with the animals.
“The first time they came to Monta Vista and I saw them, I was happy about the event,” Lyn said. “I do think they generally help with stress relief so that students can feel less stressed before finals, so it made me want to volunteer.”
Lyn mentions that her favorite animal from the visit was an English Lop/Domestic rabbit named Fauna. Knott also features a couple of her favorites during the meet-and-greets.
“One of my favorites is Winston,” Knott said. “He is a Netherland Dwarf and he’s the smallest bunny here. He’s three and a half years old, but he looks very tiny. He’s fantastic. So is Miss Cleo, another bunny, and the guinea pigs are also always lovely as well. I love them all.”
By the end of lunch, the event remained filled with students taking a pause to pet the fluffy creatures. Many students agree that the animals created a lighter mood and atmosphere on campus. Knott says witnessing the small interactions and moments of comfort and happiness is one of the most rewarding parts of the organization’s work.
“It’s always wonderful to bring the animals out and to have them interact with the students,” Knott said. “I always love seeing the smiles that they can bring to students’ faces, and students regularly and routinely say how calm the animals make them feel, and how happy they are to see them, and that makes us very happy as well.”
