Therapy donkeys are helping patients with mental health conditions recover in a psychiatric hospital unit outside Paris that's unique to France. The 19th century farm buildings and wooded surroundings are a haven within the Ville-Evrard hospital complex in Neuilly-sur-Marne. On Friday, patients took the five donkeys for a walk and cared for them. Some confidently lifted their hooves to remove dirt. Many ended the session with a hug. “When you take medication that helps you relax … it’s exactly the same,” said Nathalie, a 60-year-old patient. She and others were identified by their first names only to protect their privacy. “I’d call it animal medicine,” she said. “It brings relief. You stop thinking about everything else." Patients attend the sessions free of charge as part of their treatment, which is funded by France’s public health system. Participants are usually paired with a donkey – Nono, Pitou, Oscar, Manolo or Malraux. Over time, they become familiar with each other’s personalities. Audrey Seffar, a nurse at the animal therapy unit, said Nathalie's progress after only a few sessions was significant. “At first, she wouldn’t get out of the cart (provided for people with physical difficulties). But little by little, with encouragement, she did," Seffar said. "The animal serves as a mediator. It’s such an extraordinary one that today she was able to leave the cart and stand beside her donkey."