Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has earned official health unit status at the Ville-Evrard psychiatric hospital in Neuilly-sur-Marne, France, where donkeys and other small animals now serve as formal components of patient care. According to the Associated Press, the program—which utilizes five donkeys named Nono, Pitou, Oscar, Manolo, and Malraux—aims to provide emotional support and break the monotony of clinical psychiatric treatment.
How Animal-Assisted Therapy Functions in Clinical Settings
At Ville-Evrard, the therapy involves patients walking, grooming, and interacting with animals to reduce stress. Nathalie, a 60-year-old patient, describes the experience as a source of “relief” that allows her to detach from intrusive thoughts. François Hadey, who co-founded the project in 2016 with his wife, Ermelinda Hadey, characterizes donkeys as “emotional sponges” capable of forming deep bonds with those in treatment. The facility expanded the program in 2022 to include guinea pigs, chickens, pigeons, goats, turtles, and rabbits, reflecting a broader integration of biological interaction into standard psychiatric care.
The donkeys participating in the Ville-Evrard program were largely rescued from animal welfare centers after being neglected, turning their own recovery into a tool for human therapeutic support.
Why Psychiatric Professionals Call for Formal Research
While the program has achieved official status within the hospital, the founders are pushing for broader scientific validation to ensure animal therapy receives formal recognition across the psychiatric field. Ermelinda Hadey emphasizes that these interactions are not intended to replace doctors or medicinal prescriptions. Instead, the goal is to provide a complementary tool that helps patients regain confidence and social engagement. Current practitioners note that the primary challenge remains bridging the gap between anecdotal patient success and the rigorous data required for standardized medical protocols.
Comparing Animal-Assisted Therapy Trends
The integration of animals at Ville-Evrard represents a shift from casual visitation programs to structured, hospital-led health units. Unlike traditional “pet therapy” models that rely on volunteer visits, this model embeds the animals as permanent staff members within the psychiatric environment. The table below outlines the evolution of this therapeutic approach:
| Feature | Traditional Pet Therapy | Ville-Evrard Model |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Volunteer-led | Official Health Unit |
| Consistency | Intermittent | Permanent/Daily |
If you are exploring animal therapy for mental health, look for facilities that hold official health unit accreditation rather than those that only offer casual pet interactions, as the former often involves trained staff and structured goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does donkey therapy replace psychiatric medication? No. According to Ermelinda Hadey, the therapy is a complementary tool designed to support self-confidence, not a substitute for medical prescriptions.
- Is animal therapy common in French hospitals? While animal-assisted programs exist, the Ville-Evrard project is unique in its scale and its official integration as a recognized health unit.
- What animals are used in this program? The facility uses donkeys, guinea pigs, chickens, pigeons, goats, turtles, and rabbits.
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