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A small herd of donkeys is quietly changing the rhythm of life for patients at a psychiatric hospital outside Paris. Each week, people dealing with anxiety, loneliness, and serious mental-health issues leave their wards for an hour or two in a shaded farm setting, where gentle equines and other friendly animals help lower stress, boost social contact, and offer a break from clinical routines.
Staff, patients, and the program’s founders all report visible improvements in mood and engagement. Now the team behind the initiative is pushing for formal scientific study so the approach can be evaluated, refined, and — if results hold up — rolled out more widely across France.
Why donkeys are becoming a preferred choice for animal-assisted therapy
Donkeys have a long relationship with humans — domesticated thousands of years before many modern working animals — and that history shows in their temperament. Compared with larger equines, donkeys tend to be calm, steady, and highly social, qualities that make them well suited for therapeutic settings.
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- Natural calm: Donkeys generally react less skittishly than some other animals, which can help anxious people feel safer.
- Social intelligence: Their cooperative nature makes them responsive partners for simple interactions like grooming or walking together.
- Size and approachability: Smaller than horses, donkeys are easier for some patients to handle and less intimidating for first-time visitors.
How the farm sessions at Ville-Evrard work and what patients do
Each Friday, the program opens a wooded sanctuary on the grounds of Ville-Evrard hospital in Neuilly-sur-Marne, just outside Paris. Groups of patients are escorted out of the hospital environment and introduced to a mix of animals — not only donkeys but also goats, rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens, and even doves.
Typical activities during a visit
- Guided walks and gentle cart rides pulled by donkeys.
- Grooming tasks such as hoof cleaning or brushing, designed to encourage touch and responsibility.
- Quiet, unstructured time for petting and nuzzling, which can produce immediate calming effects.
- Group interactions that promote conversation and break the isolation many patients experience.
Staff report that the sessions give patients a valuable change of scenery, and attendees often return to the hospital visibly more relaxed. One middle-aged participant described the outings as a welcome interruption to long treatment routines, saying the contact with animals and peers helps him cope better between appointments.
Origins of the program and the people behind it
The initiative was launched by a married couple who combined veterinary know-how and psychiatric nursing experience to design a program tailored to psychiatric care. The first donkeys arrived in 2016 after careful selection and basic training; since then, the project has expanded to include a wider menagerie on the on-site farm.
Nursing students and caregivers assist during outings and note a consistent pattern: after time with the animals, patients report feeling calmer and more content. Those moments away from hospital corridors can be vital for people who struggle with the monotony and isolation of long-term treatment.
Evidence so far and the push for rigorous research
Although staff observations and patient reports are encouraging, program leaders emphasize the need for controlled studies to measure benefits objectively. They want researchers to investigate outcomes such as anxiety reduction, medication adherence, social engagement, and long-term impacts on recovery.
- Goals for future study: standardize session formats, identify which patients benefit most, and measure clinical outcomes.
- Potential policy impact: if validated, animal-assisted therapy with donkeys could become a recognized complement to psychiatric care across France.
Organizers hope that published evidence will pave the way for broader adoption and public funding, making these low-cost, low-risk interventions available at other psychiatric facilities. Media reports and short documentary segments have helped raise awareness, but clinicians and the Hadey family behind the project say scientific backing is the next necessary step.
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Michael Thompson is an experienced journalist covering U.S. and global news. With ten years on the front lines, he breaks down political and economic stories that matter. His precise writing and keen attention to detail help you grasp the real‑world impact of every event.
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