Donkey therapy helps improve patient wellbeing at French hospital

(2 Jun 2026) ++CLIENTS NOTE: in accordance with French medical privacy rules we are using only first names to identify the patients and their faces have been blurred++ ASSOCIATED PRESS Neuilly-Sur-Marne, France – 29 May 2026 1. Various of patients (wearing yellow vests) and healthcare workers (wearing orange vests) getting donkeys from pen and heading off for walk around hospital grounds 2. SOUNDBITE (French) François Hadey, donkey caretaker and co-founder of the animal therapy program: "In today's session, we prioritised walking in the shade because the patients are often undergoing treatment, and with the heat, it's more challenging for them. So we try to prioritize shaded areas in the winter and summer so that they are more comfortable for the session." 3. Various of group with donkeys walking through hospital grounds 4. SOUNDBITE (French) Nathalie, patient "Today, it went very well. I was able to walk because I'm (normally) on the cart since I can't really walk, I don't walk very fast, so I was able to walk (today). I'm taking care of the donkey more and more and we've gained trust in each other with everything and that gives me confidence in myself and helps me take good care of the animals." 5. Patient Nathalie in carriage pulled by donkey 6. Nathalie walking next to donkey 7. Nathalie climbing back into carriage after short walk 8. Wide of patients and staff with donkeys 9. SOUNDBITE (French) Nathalie, patient "When you take medicine that relaxes us... it's exactly the same thing here. It's like an animal medicine if I may say. It relieves the tension. We don't think of anything else. We only focus on the animal and his well-being and then what he does for us and then what we do for him too because I believe we need to give him a lot. There are some who have suffered in their lives and we give them a lot of love, and conversely, they give us a lot too." 10. Close of donkey 11. Various of Nathalie with donkey 12. SOUNDBITE (French) Nathalie, patient "I makes me feel incredibly well. The feeling of well-being that follows is really important." 13. Various of patient Jérôme taking care of donkey with others at care station 14. Close of donkey 15. Wide of care station 16. SOUNDBITE (French) Jérôme, patient: "Well, the first time, it was a bit surprising, but after that, well, you get used to it. No, what's difficult is cleaning the hooves when you have to make it lift its hoof with the shoulder, you have to give it a little nudge, that's a bit difficult. But otherwise, everything else is fine." 17. Patient brushing hoof 18. SOUNDBITE (French) Jérôme, patient: "It's not that I feel useful, but at least I feel less useless, you know. If I were at home thinking about doing nothing, like I told you, if I actually had a family, I might have things to do, but that's not my case. So I come here, among other things, and it makes me feel good." 19. Various of farm on hospital grounds 20. Donkey, programme co-founders Ermelinda and François Hadey in foreground 21. SOUNDBITE (French) Ermelinda Hadey, nurse and co-founder of the animal therapy programme: 22. Various of co-founders 23. SOUNDBITE (French) Ermelinda Hadey, nurse and co-founder of the animal therapy programme 24. Close of donkey eating 25. Various of farm STORYLINE: LEADIN: Donkeys are helping psychiatric patients at a hospital in France. A unique therapy programme uses the animals to help people with mental health conditions recover. STORYLINE: Staff say they can help improve emotional regulation, communication, social interaction and self-esteem. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...