About
If you ever feel stressed out, disconnected or lonely, then you’ve come to the right place. Four-Legged Therapy is a community for real world connection where you can enjoy the benefits of hanging out with animals whether you have a pet or not. It grew out of the Department Store for the Mind and was created for animal lovers.
I’m Katie Steel, a northerner, living in Surrey with my partner Tom and my beloved collie Nell. I’ve suffered with anxiety for years and welcoming a dog into my home transformed my life so much I commissioned a book about the positive lessons our fluffy, scaly and, let’s face it, stinky, friends have to offer us.
Nell fits perfectly into my world. I have become happier and lighter somehow. I want to inspire you to spend time with animals and get back to the idea that we are nature. Most of us live busy lives but few of us are untouched by loneliness, disconnection and depression at some point. Meanwhile many animals live in shelters without good homes. We have so much to learn from them and they have so much to give.
Four-Legged Therapy is a community for pet lovers whether your lifestyle allows you to own a pet or not. We welcome the curious and the hesitant, we embrace real life connection and eye contact. Not everyone can have a pet and I’m pretty sure not everyone has room for a goat or llama, an owl or a horse in their homes! This site is our online home where you can read stories from community members or enjoy a little light relief on Facebook or Instagram with the cutest clips and links with guest appearances from our animal friends (and star appearances from Miss Nell herself).
The best bit?
The best bit is what happens out in the parks and woodlands of the UK. It’s there that we expand our real life networks, enjoy human company and learn animal lessons on how to thrive in the modern world. Find out when we’re meeting next.
This is a place for people who love animals to share stories and enjoy a soul-reviving time with a four-legged or feathery therapist. Welcome, it’s good to have you here.