Courtesy photo A resident at Bishop Noa snuggles with a kitten, brought by the Delta Animal Shelter as part of its Snuggles with Seniors program.

ESCANABA — A local animal shelter spends multiple days a month visiting local senior, rehab and other centers, bringing joy, comfort and kittens.

Through its Snuggles with Seniors program, the Delta Animal Shelter spent last Thursday at Bishop Noa retirement community in Escanaba.

Each month, eight different facilities get a visit from Delta Shelter Community Outreach Coordinator Michelle Wood, shelter volunteers, and a gaggle of puppies and kittens.

Wood explained that the facility staff gathers the residents in a common area for shelter staff to bring in the four-legged friends.

“We hand out the kittens or the puppies if they’re able to be held, or we have a play pen that can be used, or if they’re bigger puppies; they’re usually just allowed to to kind of run around and be on their leash and play. So, it’s really just like a hang-out session,” Wood said.

Wood said the shelter does the program to give back to the community as it has received an abundance of support from local folks.

When the puppies and kittens are unleashed, Wood says the residents and even staff are overcome with joy. Wood explained that some facilities do not allow residents to keep pets, so they are ecstatic to get to interact with the animals.

“It definitely brings out a lot of happy memories for the residents,” she said.

Even those with mobility issues still express happiness when watching the puppies and kittens run around and play.

Not only is the program suitable for the residents, but it also greatly benefits the animals.

“Especially for puppies and kittens, we want to get them (animals) to feel comfortable around new people, new places, because our goal for them is to get adopted out of the shelter, which means they will have to get used to having a new spot,” Wood said.

The interaction also helps the pets’ social skills with humans and other animals.

“It is also a good way for the animals to be seen and for people to see what kind of animals we have at the shelter,” Wood explained.

Wood added that the program benefits everyone involved, including staff at senior centers or other facilities.

“The staff who work in these facilities; they go through a lot physically and emotionally as well, and they seem to treasure it. It seems to be good for their well-being as well,” Wood said.