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AND FIRST RESPONDERS. OUR JENNIFER FRANCIOTTI WAS THERE TO SEE THE REACTION. THEIR ANIMALS YOU’D EXPECT TO SEE ON A FARM. BUT ON THIS DAY. HAVE YOU BEEN HERE WHEN WE’VE HAD THE HORSES HERE BEFORE? MANY HORSES. AWESOME AND AMAZING, ALONG WITH MANY AND BELLE ARE MAKING A HOME VISIT TO RESIDENTS OF BRIGHTVIEW AVONDALE IN BEL AIR. WE BRING THEM IN BECAUSE WE WANT PEOPLE TO CONNECT WITH THEM. THERE’S SO MUCH INVOLVED. IT’S A FEEL GOOD, BUT IT’S ALSO A WONDERFUL WAY TO WORK ON TACTILE AND MOBILITY. THE MENAGERIE IS FROM WELLSPRING OF LIFE FARM IN MONKTON. THEIR MASH UNIT, WHICH STANDS FOR MOBILE ANIMAL SERVICES FOR HEROES, IS PROVIDED TO ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS THROUGH ITS HEROES, HORSES, HOUNDS AND HARRY GOATS PROGRAM. FOR SOME, IT’S THEIR FIRST TIME EVER BEING ABLE TO TOUCH A HORSE. FOR OTHERS, IT’S THEIR FIRST TIME INTERACTING WITH A CRAZY GOAT. AND SO IT’S A FUN TIME. BUT THERE’S ALSO A LOT OF MEANING BEHIND IT. WITH EVERY BRUSH AND SMILE FROM BOTH HUMAN AND CANINE, IT’S A WELCOME VISIT FOR RESIDENTS. I THINK IT’S REALLY COOL. THEY DIDN’T GET UPSET. THEY DIDN’T DO ANYTHING, AND I GOT TO PET IT AND I LOVE IT. IT’S LIKE BEING AT HOME. SO YEAH, SHE’S A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE GIRL. BUT ONE RESIDENT IN PARTICULAR IS TO THANK FOR THIS VISIT FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE COUNTRY. ARMY VETERAN RAY COLUMBO. AND RAY SAYS THE PROGRAM IS PARTICULARLY HELPFUL TO VETERANS SUFFERING FROM PTSD. MOST ANYTHING THAT WILL HELP GIVE THEM A SENSE OF CALM, PEACE, CONNECTION. OFTENTIMES, HUMANS CAN’T PROVIDE THAT, AND ANIMALS WHO DON’T TALK BACK DO PROVIDE THAT SENSE OF CALMNESS AND PEACE. IT’S A PEACE THAT YOU TOO CAN HELP PROVIDE. WELLSPRING OF LIFE IS LOOKING FOR MORE VOLUNTEERS. IT’S JUST A LOT OF FUN, BUT IT’S ALSO A WONDERFUL WAY TO GET HEALING BECAUSE YOU’RE YOU’RE GIVING BACK TO OTHERS. THESE GUYS CAN GO ANYWHERE. THEY CAN EVEN GO INSIDE HOSPITALS. SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE THE MASH UNIT TO COME TO YOU, JUST LOG ON TO O
News We Love: Farm matches furry friends with older adults, veterans, first responders
Updated: 9:14 PM PST Jan 15, 2026
Residents at an older adult living facility in met some special visitors Thursday.Residents at Brightview Avondell in Bel Air, Maryland, got up close and personal to see farm animals, like mini horses named Minnie and Belle.The menagerie of animals came from Wellspring of Life Farm. The farm’s Mobile Animal Services for Heroes unit provides animal visits to active-duty military, veterans and first responders through its Heroes, Horses, Hounds and Hairy Goats program.”We bring them in because we want people to connect with them. It’s a good feeling, but it’s also a wonderful way to work on tactile mobility,” said Dawn Leung, the farm’s executive director and program coordinator. “For some, it’s their first time ever touching a horse. For others, it’s their first time interacting with the crazy goat. So, it’s a fun time, but there’s also a lot of meaning behind it.”With every brush and smile from everyone involved, it’s a welcome visit for residents.”I think it’s really cool. They didn’t get upset, they didn’t do anything. I got to pet them,” said Kathy Deane, a resident.Video below: Fluffy bunnies draw a crowd at farm show”I love it,” said Doris Lockwood, a resident. “It’s like being at home. She’s a beautiful little girl.”The residents have one neighbor in particular to thank for the animals’ visit: Army veteran Ray Columbo, who said the program is particularly helpful to veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.”(The animals) help give them a sense of calm, peace, connection. Oftentimes, humans can’t provide that. Animals don’t talk back and they do provide that sense of calm and peace,” Columbo said.It’s a peace that anyone can help provide as Wellspring of Life seeks more volunteers.”It’s a lot of fun, but it’s a wonderful way to get healing and get back to others,” Leung said.The animals can go anywhere, even inside hospitals. So anyone who would like the MASH unit to visit can get more information at the following website.
Residents at an older adult living facility in met some special visitors Thursday.
Residents at Brightview Avondell in Bel Air, Maryland, got up close and personal to see farm animals, like mini horses named Minnie and Belle.
The menagerie of animals came from Wellspring of Life Farm. The farm’s Mobile Animal Services for Heroes unit provides animal visits to active-duty military, veterans and first responders through its Heroes, Horses, Hounds and Hairy Goats program.
“We bring them in because we want people to connect with them. It’s a good feeling, but it’s also a wonderful way to work on tactile mobility,” said Dawn Leung, the farm’s executive director and program coordinator. “For some, it’s their first time ever touching a horse. For others, it’s their first time interacting with the crazy goat. So, it’s a fun time, but there’s also a lot of meaning behind it.”
With every brush and smile from everyone involved, it’s a welcome visit for residents.
“I think it’s really cool. They didn’t get upset, they didn’t do anything. I got to pet them,” said Kathy Deane, a resident.
Video below: Fluffy bunnies draw a crowd at farm show
“I love it,” said Doris Lockwood, a resident. “It’s like being at home. She’s a beautiful little girl.”
The residents have one neighbor in particular to thank for the animals’ visit: Army veteran Ray Columbo, who said the program is particularly helpful to veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
“(The animals) help give them a sense of calm, peace, connection. Oftentimes, humans can’t provide that. Animals don’t talk back and they do provide that sense of calm and peace,” Columbo said.
It’s a peace that anyone can help provide as Wellspring of Life seeks more volunteers.
“It’s a lot of fun, but it’s a wonderful way to get healing and get back to others,” Leung said.
The animals can go anywhere, even inside hospitals. So anyone who would like the MASH unit to visit can get more information at the following website.
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