Community Services
PetNet
About PetNet
The Elder Services Center, led by Dr. Joyce Ferrario, has developed a new program for gerontological care, involving Animal Assisted Therapuetic Visits. The Casella Alzheimer's Education Center, with the generously endorsed gift from the Helen Thomas Howland Foundation, has been able to create the BU PetNet.
This program allows senior citizens and people with special needs to spend valuable time with a pet, either in their own home, nursing home or a facility for people with special needs, who may otherwise never have the opportunity to share that loving bond with a pet. The sense of responsibility and care that is developed in the patient while being with a pet alleviates their loneliness and/or lack of motivation.
Communicating with pets through touch and nurturing provides a sense of relaxation and well-being for the patient, who may otherwise prefer isolation amongst people.
Through PetNet, you can also become a part of this community based program either as a senior citizen or person with special needs who wants a pet to visit on a regular basis, as a family member of someone who would like to have a pet visit, or as an owner of a pet who would like to volunteer their pet to be trained for this community service program.
This program is completely non-profit, purely being done as a community service in the Southern Tier region.
Contact Us
If you are interested in having a pet come to visit you, or would like to volunteer your pet for training, e-mail Dr. Joyce Ferrario at jferrari@binghamton.edu.
Facilities' directors interested in assistance with organizing group visits to a facility, please e-mail Dr. Joyce Ferrario.
If you would like more information on the Petnet program may e-mail Dr. Joyce Ferrario.
