The Brightening Lives – Animal Visits Program is a successful and effective community service, which started in 1986. The program involves pet visits with a variety of residential community services. Volunteers take animals to facilities such as long term care facilities, The Mission, hospitals, retirement homes and rehabilitation centres. These special visits provide people with enjoyment and contact, which otherwise may be denied to them. In addition, the animals benefit from the ongoing socialization that the visits provide and the volunteers can feel enlightened knowing that they are performing a valuable community service.