Peggy
Kelley is Parkside’s “Pet Therapist.” Peggy is a Licensed Professional
Counselor and has been with Parkside for over 25 years. After
counseling children who either accidentally
or purposely harmed animals, she decided to start a pet therapy program
so that she could teach children how to handle animals. Peggy sought
additional professional training and gained dual certificates from the
Animal Behavior Institute in Animal Assisted
Therapy and Animal Training & Enrichment. Peggy provides oversight
to the use of animal assisted therapy at Parkside and has introduced a
diverse collection of animals to Parkside’s patients. Currently,
animals used in therapy at Parkside include a Bearded
Dragon lizard, several rabbits, several tortoises, guinea pigs and even
snails. Through arrangement with another pet training organization,
therapy dogs routinely visit with patients as well.
