Luxe Beat Magazine Special Edition Put a Pin in It! | Page 62

Put A Pin In It!

Chickens and Chi
By Debbie Stone

I

confess I’ve never been a fan
of chickens. They always seem
like nervous, high strung birds,
and their pecking and quick
movements are unsettling to
me. I would never have imagined
that these creatures could be used
in the realm of animal-assisted
therapy. Dogs, yes. Horses, sure. But,

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chickens? They couldn’t possibly
bring a sense of calm and comfort
to people. Then I was introduced to
Blanco and his gang and something
special happened.
At newly-opened Sunrise Springs
Integrated Wellness Resort in Santa
Fe, New Mexico, sister property to
the venerable Ojo Caliente Mineral

Springs & Spa, animal interaction
sessions are just one of the many
experiential activities offered aimed
at fostering optimal health and
well-being.
Currently, these interactions involve
canines and chickens, both of which
reside on-site. Canine sessions

are with adult service dogs and
puppies-in-training from Assistance
Dogs of the West, an agency the
resort has partnered with to
help guests learn canine handling
techniques and practice specific
training activities to prepare the
animals for being future assistance
dogs, take walks with the dogs