Mysuru man seeks to create awareness about dogs and birds for therapy

The Hindu

08-08-2025

A man in Mysuru has trained dogs and birds as a means to use pet therapy to cope with anxiety, stress, depression, and loneliness.
Benjamin Vas, a resident of Gokulam 3rd Stage in Mysuru, possesses trained therapy dogs and birds, which he claims had helped a large number of people to combat anxiety and ease tension and stress in their respective lives during the last 26 years.
Addressing a press conference in Mysuru on Friday to create awareness about therapy with the help of dogs and birds, Mr. Vas said that his therapy dogs and birds were being used in elder-care centres, parks, and hospitals, and during International Yoga Days, and the Dasara festival in Mysuru to offer 'emotional support and peace of mind' to a large number of people.
Citing studies, Mr. Vas said that petting dogs for just 5 to 10 minutes can significantly reduce anxiety levels and stress.
Presently, Mr. Vas said he has three dogs — an Alaskan Husky, an English Cocker Spaniel, and a Labrador Retriever; and seven birds, including a Sun conure, a Green-cheeked conure, a Pineapple conure, and Australian budgerigars.
Ever since he started training dogs for therapy, Mr. Vas said that a couple of them had died, and he replaced them with others, while also starting bird therapy about 20 years ago.
Though he charges money to provide his therapy dogs and birds to heal ailing persons, Mr. Vas said he gives them for free to poor people. 'I charge money because the dogs and their maintenance is expensive,' he said.
Mr. Vas, who earlier served as a priest at St. Philomena's Church, is also the founder-director of India Bible Literature Apostolate in Mysuru.