Animal Therapists
Morgan
Morgan is our resident guardian dog who is best friend and protector of our chickens. Morgan has a loud bark and will announce your arrival. Morgan usually waits in her house while we work with the chickens as she is quite shy despite her bravado. Morgan is also a great teacher about diversity in friendships and supporting our loved ones. Morgan does not do one on one work with clients but will occasionally come up for a cuddle.
Gemma (Gem)
Gemma is our young Maremma X Border Collie who came into our care from Maremma Rescue Victoria. Gemma has a kind and intuitive nature, loves to play and cuddle up, and just adores children! Her work is supporting clients of all ages to work on energy transitions, managing and being aware of behaviours and reactions, finding joy in the smallest of things, and learning to slow down, listen to feelings, and ground when you need to. Gemma believes rubbing her tummy is a great way to achieve inner peace!
Leo “the lion heart”
Leo is apart of our therapy kitten team. Leo may be shy at first, but he loves to play and when he knows clients he will fall asleep loving them. Leo works with children with anxiety and phobias, as he is gentle, curious, and aware. He also does a lot of play therapy and is a good stress reliever for children and adults who may feel overwhelmed. Leo’s role as a therapy kitten is to support clients doing room based work in therapy.
Ariana
Ariana is a Maine Coon coonlet! She and Leo are inseparable, and through their play together, we can learn about boundaries, communication and connection. She is also very playful and cuddly as all kittens are, and as a giant kitten she can physically help ground clients who need it with a big Maine Coon cuddle or lap sit. Ariana and Leo work together in the house therapy room.
Maverick
(Head of Security at Epona Brae)
Maverick is our resident outside kitty, and he will be first to greet you, check out what you are doing, and make sure you get a cuddle and the opportunity to rub his tummy if you need it. Maverick came to us as a wildcat, and he still likes to show how well he can climb trees or chase leaves if you let him. He is also a hitchhiker, so may jump into family’s cars to keep them company as they wait for clients.
The Ducks
Our adorable ducks are soft, fluffy and super cute they are very chatty and love to play around in water! Ducks are very social birds making them perfect for interaction if you wish for them to join your session, whilst they are very social they are also highly sensitive so be sure you are nice and gentle and in return they’ll be your best friend.
The chicken family
Our chicken family include resident friendly rooster JJ, his ladies Fi Fi, Langi, Eilish, Mina, Sassy, Shakira (who is blind in one eye but doesn’t let that hold her back), Arya, and new mother Samantha with her little flock Coco, Mimi, Fleur, Caroline and Zsa Zsa! Chickens have strong pecking order and family structures, are very social, affectionate and remember the faces of the humans they know. Chickens theory for ASD has been found in research to support children on the spectrum with learning and feeling connected, and our little flock love to work with children and humans of all ages to support them in social and emotional learning.
