Pop-up cafe offers animal therapy for lonely people Dog-lovers are being encouraged to help the lonely and depressed in their community by sharing some “#animal_magic” at a cafe in Manchester. Animal-assisted therapy, which began as a treatment for schizophrenics and patients with bipolar disorder at a local hospital, is now being offered at the pop-up cafe, where dog owners can take their pets to help people struggling with mental health issues. Paints And Paws Pop Inn is the brainchild of Sharon Hall, 54, who found that buying a puppy helped her cope with the loss of her parents. It uses the “real comfort” and relaxation that holding or cuddling a pet brings to give a “small ray of light” for enjoying other things in life too, Ms Hall said. http://www.itv.com/news/2018-09-09/pop-up-cafe-offers-animal-therapy-for-lonely-people/ https://www.instagram.com/p/Bow6T0XA4Zb/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=jkk10guwyj36