The Cornell Companions promotes their mission of healing through the animal-human
bond in a variety of different settings throughout Ithaca. Volunteers can visit
schools for children with special needs, nursing homes, hospices, and the local
hospital.
This variety of location also leads to a variety of visitation times,
therefore there is a time that works for everyone. Typically, visit are for an
hour twice a month, and therefore even a busy student can find the time to visit.
Also, the program includes a great variety of animals from cats and dogs to lamas
and a camel from the community.
College students, who usually do not have an animal
of their own,
will usually be paired up with a cat or dog from the community or visit with a
community
member that brings an animal. The program allows students the opportunity to enjoy
time with an animal and help make another persons day brighter.
Additionally the Cornell companions-PSC extension promote community and animal
welfare by holding an annul charity dog walk to raise money for Animal Aid of
Cortland. Once a year, dogs and people from the community gather at the plantations
for the walk. Each year the walk has risen to new heights in both the amount of
money raised and the number of participants.
