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The organization, in the process of beingrenamed Mississippi Therapy Animals, hasalso evolved to not only include canines butalpacas, ducks, a goat, sheep, horses, and abird. There is truly an animal for everyone.These animals are specifically trained to beof service to those that they are intended tohelp. Katrinna stated, “People open up to youwhen you have an animal. We can do somuch more for people with trained animalswho love people.”Katrinna routinely takes animals tobrighten the days of the children at Blair E.Batson Hospital. Having to endure hospitalstays as a child can be a traumatic experience.Seeing the smiles and emotional connectionthe animals and children have is amazing.She said, “Many moments have brought meto tears with the patients and people I havemet.” Katrinna recalled one special momentwhen her Australian Shepherd namedChicken Nugget began gently kissing thenose and face of child at Batson. Sheexpressed how he knows exactly how torespond to certain individuals and howthese animals inherently have a connectionthat people don’t.These interactions are what make theprogram so incredible and meaningful. Sheexplained, “When you walk into a room andthe person cries because you’re there just tosee them with an animal, it really touchesand changes your life.”The organization also trains and helpsrecipients obtain service animals for variousneeds. Kalyn Smith, an avid equestriansince the young age of five, suffered alife-changing accident in 2019. Living on afarm and surrounded by animals daily, sheenjoyed riding horses for most of her life.As she was exercising one of her horses, shedecided to take him around the barrels. Asshe made her way around the last barrel, shewas thrown eight feet into the air and crashedto the ground. The accident resulted insomething she could have never imagined,a fracture in her back leaving her wheelchairbound.Kalyn quickly realized that she missedbeing outdoors and missed her animals. Afriend who knows Katrinna from her workat UMMC, made a connection for thetwo and soon a visit was scheduled. Kalynrecalled, “I was so happy. It brightened myday for sure!”Not long after, Katrinna had a rescuedonated that needed a handler. Kalyn hadmissed working with her own animals somuch so this was a perfect match for her.This rescue was a precious AustralianShepherd named Zane who became Kalyn’sservice animal and has been by her side sincehe was five months old. Kalyn explainedthat the organization is donating their owntime to the service dog for her and shehandles him similarly to what she used todo with her horses and calves. Regainingthe freedom to be able to continue doingwhat she loves has helped Kalyn’s recoveryin so many ways. She gratefully added, “I’mglad to have him and Mississippi TherapyCanines.” Kalyn is full steam ahead in herrecovery and is currently working to getback in the saddle once again with her newhorse, Slick.Katrinna and Mississippi TherapyAnimals also trains service animals thatdeal with emotional needs of patients suchas anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Withthe help of Katrinna and her service dog,Bon, college student Madison (Madi) Maiis recovering one day at a time. While incollege, Madi was the victim of an assaultleaving her physically and emotionallytraumatized. Dealing with daily suffering,Katrinna and her therapy animals havebecome such a powerful and positiveinfluence in Madi’s life. Madi explains,“Katrinna understood everything thathappened to me and has been talking withme and encouraging me to go to therapy andwork on myself, not just Bon.” Katrinnaalso introduced Madi to Kalyn to furtherhelp her and have a support system toovercome and persevere. Madi stated thatBon, although still young and in training,has helped her cope so much by being ableto read her distress signals and come to heraid in various ways. Madi admitted, “Bontakes care of me more than I could for her.I honestly believe that Bon saved my life.”Katrinna Miller and Mississippi TherapyAnimals is changing the lives of so manypeople in our community. The amount oftime and care that goes into the training ofservice animals along with the love thisorganization shows every patient is nothingshort of extraordinary.You can help them continue theirmission and be an instrumental part ofthese success stories by donating time as avolunteer or desperately needed monetarydonations.For more information on their services or to volunteeror donate, visit facebook.com/mstherapyanimals/,instagram.com/mstherapyanimals ormstherapyanimals.comHometown MADISON • 39