PRAAT was introduced locally by the Patchogue Rotary Club in 1993  under the direction of Dr. David Roy Hensen, veterinarian and member of Patchogue Rotary. The first facility we served was the Brookhaven Towne House for Adults.  Since that time we have visited over thirty different facilities, with over two hundred volunteers and their dogs.  We are now trying to expand the program to involve all of Rotary district 7260 (Suffolk County).

Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) incorporates programs that provide the joy and companionship of pets and animals to those who are ill, mentally or physically handicapped, or otherwise disadvantaged.  Often these people have had pets in their past but due to a change in circumstances, they no longer have them.  AAT brings these people back into contact with the therapeutic world of animals.  Visits from AAT volunteers have proven to be positive and uplifting,  both  mentally and physically.  Whenever a person laughs and smiles it is ALWAYS good medicine.

Check out the pictures in the photo journal.

The PRAAT Website is located at http://www.praatinc.org/.