Good morning!

There are tons of benefits to receiving regular feedback from our WWAD chapters (please keep it coming!). One of the coolest things is that it helps us spot trends.

Currently, as you may have heard, everyone is talking about Therapy Chickens.

Many of the questions are similar so Rachael, Bryan, and I thought it might be best to address a couple of the FAQs with the whole group.

First, let me please say this:

We understand that, by definition, therapeutic chickens are important. Everyone at HQ sees their value.

We are finding, however, that not every chicken showing up has completed standard Therapy Chicken training.

(There are therapy chickens??)

I’m not saying it’s you, but some people have been slapping a therapy vest on their chicken and bringing it to the Walk.

Unfortunately, these imposter chickens are causing significant problems.

Some of these birds are strutting around like they own the place. While a few are respectful (thank you), many are gregarious and fearless. Honestly, they’re giving the real therapy chickens a bad name.

Another concern is a little more personal.

Chickens make me anxious, and I can’t imagine I’m the only one.

I don’t want to generalize, but since I already have, they can be loud, pecky, and constantly jockeying for position, trying to figure out who rules the roost.

When I’m addressing the WWAD group, many chickens will assume I’m at the top of the pecking order… so they come after me first.

And to make it worse, I kind of look like a chicken.

Just last Saturday, as I was speaking about the health benefits of tomatoes, a few of them broke into a dust bath (the chickens, not the walkers).

I started incessantly sneezing, and the crowd got distracted.

That made me nervous. And when I get nervous, I need my Emotional Support Iguana.

And if you think chickens and iguanas don’t get along, you’re right.

Where was I?

Oh, yeah.

We are updating two of our bylaws, effective today, April 18th, 2025.

Article VIII, Item 27(a)

Any chicken offering therapeutic services that wishes to attend a WWAD must first complete Rachael’s 4-week training program. Upon successful completion (must attend 80% of sessions), all graduate chickens will receive an Official Walk with a Doc Chicken Therapy Vest, which must be worn at all sanctioned WWAD events.

No exceptions

(You can email Rachael at contact@walkwithadoc.org for enrollment, but please give me 2–3 days’ head start. I haven’t shared any of this with Rachael yet.)

Article VIII, Item 27(b)

This item pertains exclusively to our physician leaders:

If you notice any Therapy Chickens in your audience and had planned to talk about this… please audible to this.

‘Nancy, I thought you said this was a medical newsletter?’

Disclaimer: This newsletter is entirely fictional. We love therapy animals, and we know the comfort and care they provide is no yolk. This newsletter is all in good fun, and any jokes are aimed squarely at imposter chickens, not the amazing certified ones out there doing important work. We’re all for feathers, fur, and healing, especially when it’s official.