Updated January 29, 2026
What are Animal Assisted Activities?
Animal Assisted Activities (AAA) are a type of Animal Assisted Intervention (AAI) that utilizes structured or semi-structured activities around animal interaction. These activities support emotional wellbeing, social connection, and overall quality of life. In a farm setting, Animal Assisted Activities often emphasize daily care of farm animals. Individuals realize mental health benefits through meaningful work, consistency, and nurturing relationships with animals who depend on them.
Animals Transforming Lives
The therapeutic power of animals helps transform lives every day at CooperRiis, a residential healing community in the mountains of Western North Carolina for adults living with mental health challenges.
Residents come to our 94-acre farm campus to recover in a peaceful setting. The healing process includes engaging in tasks that are meaningful, purposeful and contribute to daily life at CooperRiis. Our Community Work & Service Program matches teams of residents, or crews, with interesting and empowering opportunities. These opportunities can range from farm and garden, to kitchen and woodworking.
A Daily Animal Assisted Rhythm
There are more than 160 farm animals to care for at CooperRiis. Because of this, the animal crew is doing very important work every day.
Mornings start at the barn with a quick check-in. Crew members begin by sharing their joys, concerns and goals for the day. The chores start as dozens of chickens, ducks and turkeys, goats, sheep, horses, ponies, pigs, cats and dogs are fed and watered. When the daily chores are done, crewmates engage in a variety of tasks and projects. These tasks are vital to maintaining the farm operation. Work includes animal grooming and hoof care, goat milking, fencing and shelter repair, sheep shearing and fleece cleaning, carding and spinning yarn, and cutting and putting up hay.
This is all under the guidance of Animal Crew Leader Emily Moyer. “Our residents receive so much love from these animals. Many are craving that connection,” according to Emily. “And the physicality of the work is also very therapeutic.”
The daily rhythm and healing properties of animal the animal assisted activities we do at CooperRiis give residents a sense of purpose and responsibility. This article on Animal Assisted Activities agrees that working with animals therapeutically can help individuals gain better motivation and engagement, emotional regulation, and a stronger sense of purpose.
We look forward to sharing more about the Community Work and Service Program’s Animal Crew, the therapeutic power of animal assisted activities, and their important role in the healing journey at CooperRiis.
Learn more about our Farm & our Residential Treatment Center