‘Animals Make a Hospital Happy’: Classic Photos of Critters Helping Kids
‘Animals Make a Hospital Happy’: Classic Photos of Critters Helping Kids
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Caption from LIFE. Bedside pleasure for 3-year-old Peggy Kennedy is provided by ducklings paddling around in tub. Peggy is polio victim, wears a plastic chest respirator.Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Almost 60 years ago, in November 1956, LIFE magazine published an article with the deceptively lighthearted title, “Animals Make a Hospital Happy.” Noting that children, especially, are acutely aware of “how depressing it is to be in a hospital . . . the University of Michigan’s hospital at Ann Arbor runs a perpetual animal show which is enjoyed by the 3,000 children who pass annually thought its wards.”
Today, of course, animal-assisted therapy is common in hospitals, nursing homes, rehab clinics and other places where the pain and solitude that so often come with illness—and the stress associated with recovering from injuries or sickness—can be almost paralyzing. Whether or not spending time with animals can actually help spark long-lasting improvements in mental health is an open, and controversial, question. But anecdotal evidence suggests that patients offered the opportunity to play with and otherwise interact with animals appear to be more optimistic about their prospects for recovery, while certain animals (especially social animals, like dogs) can often help decrease the sense of isolation and loneliness that so often plagues those stuck in hospitals for long periods of time.
As the LIFE article put it, “for hurrying a child out of the sickbed, the Ann Arbor hospital has found that nothing can match a youngster’s natural fascination with animals.”
Here, in fond tribute to the critters among us, LIFE.com shares photos from that long-ago article, as well as many more that never ran in LIFE.
Liz Ronk, who edited this gallery, is the Photo Editor for LIFE.com. Follow her on Twitter at @LizabethRonk.
Caption from LIFE. Coati Mundi, a raccoon-like animal, cavorts on wire above heads of young patients and teachers in Ann Arbor, on table are calf and pig.Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesCaption from LIFE. Dinner for ducklings is eagerly handed out by children crowding around a pool set up on hospital sun deck. The ducklings were lent by Ann Arbor farmer.Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesCaption from LIFE. Bedside pleasure for 3-year-old Peggy Kennedy is provided by ducklings paddling around in tub. Peggy is polio victim, wears a plastic chest respirator.Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesScene at University of Michigan's hospital at Ann Arbor, 1956.Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesCaption from LIFE:. A bath for piglet occupies Patricia Cebelak (left), 8, who has food allergy, and Linda Fox, 4, who has lung ailment. Two teachers lend a helping hand.Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesCaption from LIFE. Dolled-up rabbit, with ears poked through doll's dress, tours sun deck in baby buggy pushed by Linda Fox. Pat Cebelak follows with beagle pup.Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesCaption from LIFE. Tempting a coati, Marc Tannenbaum offers animal drop of perfume. Coati Mundi has curious way of taking perfume on paw, rubbing it on tail.Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesCaption from LIFE. Canine comfort is offered Buddy Berlin, whose left leg is paralyzed, by Ginger, beagle pup. At bedside hospital's school director, Mrs. Mildred Walton.Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesTwo children play with kittens at the University of Michigan's hospital at Ann Arbor, 1956.Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesScene at University of Michigan's hospital at Ann Arbor, 1956.Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesA child nurse cuddling a towel wrapped baby duck as one of the hospital's methods of using therapy with animals.Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesScene at University of Michigan's hospital at Ann Arbor, 1956.Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesScene at University of Michigan's hospital at Ann Arbor, 1956.Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesScene at University of Michigan's hospital at Ann Arbor, 1956.Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesScene at University of Michigan's hospital at Ann Arbor, 1956.Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesA child shines a flash light on a jar with a turtle inside at the University of Michigan's hospital at Ann Arbor, 1956.Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
