Animal -assisted pastoral care: Pastor uses alpacas and lamas at the heart opening

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New ways of pastoral care: Lamas and alpacas as animal therapists

In today's hectic world, more and more people are looking for new ways to find peace and comfort. The Evangelical Pastor Wiltrud Bauer goes an unusual path here: she relies on animal helpers to support people in difficult situations. She regularly leads alpacas and lamas to visit in hospice, old people's homes and disabled children - an unconventional method that achieves amazing success.

The encounters with the animals not only lead to touching moments, but also have astonishing effects on people. Bauer reports of situations in which sick suddenly forget how sick they are and get up from a wheelchair to follow the animals. These animals serve not only as a door opener, but above all as a heart opener who give people unforgettable moments and thus also touch their soul

healing effect of animal -assisted pastoral care

For farmers and her colleagues, animal -assisted pastoral care is an important addition to your work. The animals enable them to reach hearts and create access to people who would not be possible in other ways. The sensitivity and calm of the animals make it easier for people to talk about their problems and to find consolation, be it after the death of a relative or in an existential life crisis.

Working with the animals is so important for Bauer that it would like it to be officially recognized as part of their pastoral activity. The animal -assisted therapy and pedagogy that she completed after her studies shows that the connection between humans and animals is a special form of healing and support.

innovative animal sermons in the summer church

The appreciation for animals also expresses the “Hoffnungskirchengemeinde” in the summer church. Under the motto “Kamel, Esel & Co”, the pastors deal with various animal species and their symbolic meaning in their sermons. Animals are also welcome in Bauer's service - even dogs can be brought with them. They will also accompany some of their “Alpaka colleagues” to the church to enrich the service.

The unconventional approach of Pastor Wiltrud Bauer shows that action therapy can be effective not only in the medical field, but also in the pastoral context. Their work with alpacas and lamas opens up new perspectives and helps people to experience consolation and healing in an unusual way.

- Nag