Residents at Broadway Mesa Village Senior Living recently had a fun time with a recent visit from the Creature Kingdom, a mobile exotic petting zoo.

Creature Kingdom brought rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, parakeets, chameleons and more to the community at 7231 E. Broadway Road in Mesa.

Several residents sat outside in a circle as a Creature Kingdom representative gently brought each animal out for the residents to look at and even hold, according to a release.

“This is what it’s all about: Putting smiles on their faces,” Teresa Hadley, life enrichment director of Broadway Mesa Village, said in the release. “And giving them experiences they’ve never had before, or rekindling memories. We all felt some warmth and joy that afternoon.”

Pet therapy is a positive benefit for seniors, especially individuals who battle Alzheimer’s or dementia. Holding and petting an animal can evoke positive memories while providing a sense of nurturing and purpose, the release states.

Broadway Mesa Village is an assisted living and memory care community that offers Connections — a relationship-oriented and data-based Connect, Move and Learn program for dementia residents.

Go to pegasusseniorliving.com/broadway-mesa-village.