TYLER — Family pets can bring a lot of joy into your loved one's lives, but what if your pet was used to help strangers overcome traumatic events in their life?  It's happening here in East Texas.  How much of an impact can animals make on our lives?  Therapy pet advocates say interacting with an animal doesn't just boost your mood, but can also help people recover from serious ailments.

Watch the video above for more on this story.

For more on the East Texas Therapet Foundation click on the link below:

http://www.therapet.com/about_serve.php

Jessica Wilson/ KETKnbc.com