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The organization, in the process of being
renamed Mississippi Therapy Animals, has
also evolved to not only include canines but
alpacas, ducks, a goat, sheep, horses, and a
bird. There is truly an animal for everyone.
These animals are specifically trained to be
of service to those that they are intended to
help. Katrinna stated, “People open up to you
when you have an animal. We can do so
much more for people with trained animals
who love people.”
Katrinna routinely takes animals to
brighten the days of the children at Blair E.
Batson Hospital. Having to endure hospital
stays as a child can be a traumatic experience.
Seeing the smiles and emotional connection
the animals and children have is amazing.
She said, “Many moments have brought me
to tears with the patients and people I have
met.” Katrinna recalled one special moment
when her Australian Shepherd named
Chicken Nugget began gently kissing the
nose and face of child at Batson. She
expressed how he knows exactly how to
respond to certain individuals and how
these animals inherently have a connection
that people don’t.
These interactions are what make the
program so incredible and meaningful. She
explained, “When you walk into a room and
the person cries because you’re there just to
see them with an animal, it really touches
and changes your life.”
The organization also trains and helps
recipients obtain service animals for various
needs. Kalyn Smith, an avid equestrian
since the young age of five, suffered a
life-changing accident in 2019. Living on a
farm and surrounded by animals daily, she
enjoyed riding horses for most of her life.
As she was exercising one of her horses, she
decided to take him around the barrels. As
she made her way around the last barrel, she
was thrown eight feet into the air and crashed
to the ground. The accident resulted in
something she could have never imagined,
a fracture in her back leaving her wheelchair
bound.
Kalyn quickly realized that she missed
being outdoors and missed her animals. A
friend who knows Katrinna from her work
at UMMC, made a connection for the
two and soon a visit was scheduled. Kalyn
recalled, “I was so happy. It brightened my
day for sure!”
Not long after, Katrinna had a rescue
donated that needed a handler. Kalyn had
missed working with her own animals so
much so this was a perfect match for her.
This rescue was a precious Australian
Shepherd named Zane who became Kalyn’s
service animal and has been by her side since
he was five months old. Kalyn explained
that the organization is donating their own
time to the service dog for her and she
handles him similarly to what she used to
do with her horses and calves. Regaining
the freedom to be able to continue doing
what she loves has helped Kalyn’s recovery
in so many ways. She gratefully added, “I’m
glad to have him and Mississippi Therapy
Canines.” Kalyn is full steam ahead in her
recovery and is currently working to get
back in the saddle once again with her new
horse, Slick.
Katrinna and Mississippi Therapy
Animals also trains service animals that
deal with emotional needs of patients such
as anxiety, depression, and PTSD. With
the help of Katrinna and her service dog,
Bon, college student Madison (Madi) Mai
is recovering one day at a time. While in
college, Madi was the victim of an assault
leaving her physically and emotionally
traumatized. Dealing with daily suffering,
Katrinna and her therapy animals have
become such a powerful and positive
influence in Madi’s life. Madi explains,
“Katrinna understood everything that
happened to me and has been talking with
me and encouraging me to go to therapy and
work on myself, not just Bon.” Katrinna
also introduced Madi to Kalyn to further
help her and have a support system to
overcome and persevere. Madi stated that
Bon, although still young and in training,
has helped her cope so much by being able
to read her distress signals and come to her
aid in various ways. Madi admitted, “Bon
takes care of me more than I could for her.
I honestly believe that Bon saved my life.”
Katrinna Miller and Mississippi Therapy
Animals is changing the lives of so many
people in our community. The amount of
time and care that goes into the training of
service animals along with the love this
organization shows every patient is nothing
short of extraordinary.
You can help them continue their
mission and be an instrumental part of
these success stories by donating time as a
volunteer or desperately needed monetary
donations.
For more information on their services or to volunteer
or donate, visit facebook.com/mstherapyanimals/,
instagram.com/mstherapyanimals or
mstherapyanimals.com
Hometown MADISON • 39