From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.Programs using animals to calm patients and reduce tension are called animal therapy.In the United States, these treatments are popular, although there is a lack of evidence to show that they work.There are, however, many stories about animal therapy helping people.For example, some children have a fear of injections.That may make getting the COVID-19 vaccine a difficult experience.So, some hospitals use therapy animals -- like Ollie, a six-year-old therapy dog.Ollie is helping children at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego, California overcome their fear of vaccine shots.One of those children is nine-year-old Avery Smith.At the children's hospital, she cried over her fear of the vaccine.Then, Ollie came in and sat at her feet.
