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Does interacting with animals improve your mental health? Rebecca and Ian go on a quest to find out. We hear from a nursing student whose Yorkshire Terrier helps prevent panic attacks. We weigh the mental health benefits of pet ownership with Anthrozoology Professor Hal Herzog. And we talk to a man given a prescription for an emotional support goat.

Featured Experts

http://halherzog.com/ — Professor Hal Herzog

Hal is a Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Western Carolina University. He studies and writes about anthrozoology, or the complex psychology of the relationships between humans and other species. Learn more about his work at halherzog.com.

Dr. Aubrey Fine

Dr. Fine is a professor of psychology at California State Polytechnic University. He is a licensed psychologist who opened his practice in Southern California in 1987. Learn more about Dr. Fine's work with therapy animals at aubreyhfine.com.

Emotional Support animal Videos

Emotional support animals can be literally ANY KIND OF ANIMAL, which leads to some pretty hilarious photos/videos when they accompany their humans on planes.

The owner of a duck that has become a viral sensation after boarding a plane with other passengers is speaking out, saying she relies on her web-footed friend to help her deal with stress. Carla Fitzgerald, who owns mild-mannered mallard Daniel, says she needs the duck for support due to her battle with post-traumatic stress following a traffic accident.

A Seattle woman flying to San Francisco to spread her husband's ashes took her 25-pound pet turkey on the flight for emotional support. Jodie Smalley says her turkey, Easter, has been there for her since her husband passed away from cancer three months ago.

Matilda the Yorkie

In this episode, we meet @Matilda_the_yorkie, nursing student Eva Kerman's very fashionable emotional support animal. Below are some photos of Matilda, or "Tilly," just generally being her fabulous self.

Duckie the Goat

Read Brian Polcyn's full story about "gaming the system" with Duckie the Goat.