Animal magnetism

Deepa Bharath

“You’re so pretty. How do you look so pretty?”

Elphie Seare petted Carolina’s soft and well-groomed mane, gracefully

decorated with little pink bows and ribbons.

The miniature horse, born and bred in North Carolina, traveled

cross-country to join other furry friends at Create a Smile, a group that

provides therapy through animals.

On a recent afternoon, the 2-year-old filly was humoring residents at

Newport Plaza, a retirement community in Newport Beach.

Seare, 98, said she couldn’t take her eyes off Carolina, who stood

patiently, almost motionless, with a seemingly benevolent look in her

watery eyes.

“Look at you!” she exclaimed, planting a gentle kiss on the filly’s

silky forehead.

Carolina’s “colleagues” -- Cricket the black Chihuahua, Timmy the

white Bichon mix, Timber the Flemish giant rabbit and Bacchus the big

black poodle -- are all hot favorites with the residents, who enjoy their

company at least once a month.

The animals visit sick or disabled patients in hospitals and other

health care facilities, veterans and seniors, as well as group homes and

homes for abused women and children.

“These animals have brought a lot of smiles to a lot of faces,” said

Kathy Lowmiller, who heads Create a Smile’s Orange County division based

in Costa Mesa. “It’s wonderful to see how people’s faces light up when

they get to be with our animals.”

Among the places Lowmiller and her group have visited are the Ronald

MacDonald House, Fairview Development Center, 1736 Family Crisis Center,

Hollygrove Orphanage and the McBride Special Education School.

Lowmiller says animal-assisted therapy has shown an 85% increase in a

patient’s longevity, recovery process and independence skills.

Carolina and the other animals live with Lowmiller’s sister Marian

Rivera in Santa Ana Heights by the Back Bay.

All of them are nationally registered as “pet partners” for

animal-assisted therapy activities. They go through a rigorous screening

process that includes health, behavior and aptitude tests.

Carolina, for example, had to take a host of shots because she crossed

state lines. The miniature horse, barely 28 inches tall and about 157

pounds heavy, traveled 3,000 miles in a trailer.

She was a natural “therapist,” quick on the uptake, said Lowmiller.

“She didn’t startle at all and that’s really important,” she

explained. “These animals are petted by strangers all the time and

sometimes it gets pretty crowded. They have to get used to all the

attention without getting spooked.”

The animals are also taught how to walk on slick floors and navigate

around physical obstacles, such as crutches, walkers and wheelchairs,

that they are likely to encounter during the course of a normal work day.

“They learn how to deal with real loud noise,” Lowmiller said.

“Carolina also had to learn how to get in and out of the minivan that is

her mode of transport now.”

Carolina and her friends do have a therapeutic effect on the people

they interact with, said Rivera.

“For some of these [seniors] who live in a retirement community, it

brings back memories of animals they once had and enjoyed,” she said.

It did bring back fond memories for Angel Ferrante, a two-year

resident of Newport Plaza.

“I like ponies,” she said. “I used to ride them as a little girl in

West Virginia and Michigan where I grew up.”

Ferrante said she loved the sense of liberation she felt while riding

a horse.

“It’s a good feeling,” she recalled. “Your hair’s blowing in the wind.

It’s relaxing.”

Timber the bunny was also a big hit among the residents. Lillian Hill,

100, petted Timber as she readily snuggled in her lap.

“She’s is so soft,” she remarked.

Soon, she exchanged the bunny for Timmy the dog.

“I had a small dog once,” she reminisced. “It’s nice to have these

animals here. It’s like you’ve got somebody around the house.”

Manager Connie Marvick agreed.

“It’s fabulous and it increased the quality of people’s lives,” she

said. “It’s a calming experience and I know for sure it’s something our

residents look forward to every month.”

-- Deepa Bharath covers public safety and courts. She may be reached

at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at o7 deepa.bharath@latimes.comf7 .