A Canadian psychology professor who researches the role of pets in healthy development has an unusual therapy animal of her own: an emotional support chicken that helps her manage daily life.
Sonia Kong adopted the 11-month-old chicken from a farm near Prince George, British Columbia. She named the bird Saturday, after the day she brought her home. Kong says the emotional support chicken is attentive and responsive to her feelings.
According to Kong, the bird appears to notice when she is upset. She recalled a moment when she was crying and the chicken quietly stayed beside her, watching her closely. Kong said the gesture felt meaningful and comforting.
To make it easier to bring the chicken into public spaces, Kong designed a small diaper so the bird can travel with her around the city.
Kong teaches at the University of Northern British Columbia. Her current research focuses on how pets influence the social and emotional development of teenagers. She is conducting an international online survey in partnership with Tracy Wong, an assistant professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Their study examines whether cultural differences affect how adolescents benefit from relationships with pets.
Kong said her parents are still adjusting to the idea of her keeping a chicken as a pet. They have jokingly asked whether she plans to eat it, but Kong makes it clear that Saturday is not livestock — she is a companion animal. She noted that reactions like her parents’ reflect broader cultural differences in how people view animals.