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The Best Pet Friendly Sober Living in California

Drug addicts that get sober struggle to deal with things without the feelings that drugs gave them. Many people who abuse drugs do it to escape their emotions and cope with loneliness. When they get sober, they have to deal with these occurrences without the drugs. This fact presents a significant hurdle on their quest for a drug-free life. Failure to deal with it makes your recovery difficult, which can lead to relapse.  Transitioning from inpatient addiction facilities to live outside these centers can be challenging. Once you are out of these establishments, sustaining sobriety on the outside without the rules and structure to support you is challenging. Sober living homes, halfway houses, recovery residences, or transitional living arrangements are an excellent place to stay as you learn to live a drug-free life in society.  Pets are good companions for recovering addicts. Many recovery residences allow residents to have pets. You can come with your pet, or they have some in the facility. Riviera Recovery halfway house recognizes the importance of recovering addicts having pets. Consequently, Riviera Recovery has been among the leading facilities that leverage pet therapy to help recovering addicts. 

Pet Therapy 

woman in grey sweater carrying a dog, pet friendly sober living, pet friendly sober living los angeles Research shows that pet therapy is a reliable technique for helping recovering addicts. Pet therapy is an excellent approach as recovering addicts connect with animals, which helps them through recovery. It involves the use of animals during recovery. The unconditional love, responsibility, and joy that pets cause are beneficial to recovering addicts. They support recovering addicts and encourage them to be more open with their counselors. 

Pets Bring Joy to the Recovery Process 

Pets can be crucial during recovery from substance dependence. For example, petting a dog or a cat can enhance the dopamine and serotonin levels in your body. This increase causes a calm, relaxing effect. Recovering from addiction can be challenging. The impact that pets create brings joy and helps you through the complicated parts of recovery. Having a pet that cares for you unconditionally and does not judge you, despite your struggles, can also bring you joy. 

Pet-Assisted Sober Living 

Some transitional living arrangements allow residents to have pets in their facility. You can have a pet, such as a dog or a cat, in your room during your stay. These facilities have different regulations considering the duration of having the pet, areas you can go with them, and the activities you can engage in with them. Consult the administrators of each halfway house to know their rules concerning having pets during your sober living.  Your pet can help you during your sober living in these ways: 
  • Exercise with pets
  • Socialization 
  • Emotional support 
  • Long term, in-room stay 
  • Pet walks and relaxation 

Benefits of Pets in Sober Living 

The best sober living homes recognize the advantages of allowing their residents to have pets. After your detox, the challenge of staying sober begins. Having a pet as you transition to a life of sobriety can be beneficial. Pets offer the following benefits of the human-animal relationship. 

1. Pets Give Unconditional Love

close up image showing a man hugging a dog, pet friendly sober living, pet friendly sober living los angeles, pet friendly Addiction can make you do many things that affect your relationship with those close to you. This bad blood between you can make them struggle to support you unconditionally during your recovery. You do not have to worry about such occurrences with pets. They will be there for you throughout, and they will not criticize you as you work on getting better. This full support helps you get back on your feet and enhances your self-esteem, which is essential during recovery. 

2. Pets Can Teach You Some Things About Yourself

Animals portray complete emotional honesty. Their cues will always tell you when they are angry, happy, relaxed, or in fear. This comprehensive openness can be a vital lesson for recovering addicts. Addiction is likely to have made you numb to emotions or helped you mask them. Additionally, the animals can mirror your emotions, which can help you know your emotional state. Being truthful about your feelings can help you deal with them better. 

3. Dog Owners Are Likely to Exercise More Than People That Do Not Have Dogs 

Studies show that having a dog can make you work out more than you would without one. As you learn to live without the effects of drugs, physical activity can be helpful. Exercising keeps your body in shape to help you recover. It also makes your body release more endorphins, which trigger a positive feeling in your body. Working out also boosts the release of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. These chemicals are essential in controlling your mood.

4. Pets Can Make You More Responsible

Looking after pets can be a bit demanding. However, the necessary work should not scare you. Taking up some responsibility as you adjust to life in a transitional living arrangement can be appropriate for you. Looking after a pet can encourage you to see yourself as responsible. Believing in yourself is what you need as you embark on a road of staying away from drugs. You do not have to bring one home. There are many other ways you can get pet therapy.  

5. Pets Can Help You Relate Well With Other People

Once you detox from drugs, you will need to cut off any ties with friends that increase your likelihood of relapse. Building new relationships can be scary for many people. You may struggle for some period as you start relations. Having a pet can ease this transition. Having a pet can be an excellent link to start a connection with other pet owners. Animal-related topics can also be incredible ice breakers. Isolation can make you relapse. Connecting with other people is vital for staying sober. People who are going through a similar ordeal as you often give practical advice that helps you cope.

6. Pets Can Help You Fight the Feeling of Loneliness

As you transition to a drug-free life, necessary changes can make you feel lonely. This feeling is dangerous for your new path. Recovering addicts that do not have support or people in their corners are likely to relapse. Having a pet by your side can reduce the feeling of loneliness. Pets do not endanger your new life and will always be there for you as you work on yourself. They can also help release feel-good hormones that will improve your emotional state.

Strength, Courage, and Optimism 

a woman hugging a siberian husky, pet friendly sober living, pet friendly sober living los angeles, pet friendly sober living california, pet friendly sober living near me   Adjusting to a drug-free life can be challenging. During your addiction, you might have been taking the drugs to deal with stressful situations or your emotions. You will have to learn alternative ways to cope with them during recovery. It may be difficult at first, but having a pet can give you the inspiration you need to remain sober. Look for sober living homes near me that allow residents to have pets to benefit from having one. Many dogs are energetic and playful. Their enthusiastic nature may inspire you to also be proactive in your recovery. Their movements may also make you active, which can be a form of exercise. This physical activity will release hormones that will make you delighted. Happiness can make you more susceptible to adopting the practices you need to remain sober. 

Problems With Pets in Sober Living 

Having pets in halfway houses can present some challenges to the residents. Pets can be dirty. Failure by their owners to clean after them can cause discomfort to the other residents. Pets can also move around a lot. This movement bothers the other recovering addicts or makes the animals get lost. If you fail to look after your pet, the burden often shifts to the more responsible inhabitants of the recovery residence. 

Sober Living and Pet Allergies 

Some residents of halfway houses are allergic to pets. Sober living facilities must ensure that all the inhabitants of the facility get a conducive environment to adjust to a life of sobriety. The common practice is for the recovering addicts to undergo a medical background check before admission. Those that are allergic to pets and gain entry get their pet-free section.   

Finding a Pet-Friendly Sober Living 

Riviera Recovery acknowledges the significance of allowing residents in our sober living homes in California to have pets. We have been at the forefront of leveraging pet therapy to help recovering addicts. Residents get to benefit from pets in our luxurious, spacious, clean, and pet-friendly surroundings.    We have experienced staff on hand to help you when you need them. We take in a specific number of residents to ensure all our inhabitants receive the quality environment they need to adjust to a life of sobriety. Our clients are important to us, and we take an interest in ensuring they stay sober. We provide post-sober living care to help them integrate after they leave our facility.  We have facilities in Malibu and Los Angeles. These centers provide several services. Our services include nightly check-in, food management system, weekly social meetings, attendance at the necessary gatherings, and mandatory weekly in-house get together. You can have your pet through some of these activities while in Riviera Recovery.

Final Word 

While experts agree that pets can be beneficial to recovering addicts, not every halfway house allows residents to have pets. Finding one that permits you to have a pet can make a significant difference in your quest to sustain your sobriety. Pets have many benefits to recovering addicts despite the challenges of having one. They can make you more responsible, keep you company, support you unconditionally, and help you exercise.  Riviera Recovery knows that pets can help people in sober living facilities. Therefore, we allow our residents to have pets. We have a few regulations to help get the best of pets without inconveniencing other inhabitants of the halfway house.  Check what you need to bring to a sober living home to know if you can bring a pet. Our clean, luxurious, pet-friendly environment is the right place for you to learn how you will sustain your sobriety.  Reach out to us via (866) 478-8799 or send us a confidential message to know how we can help you adjust to recovery.
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#1 Pet Friendly Sober Living in Malibu
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Pet Friendly Sober Living in Malibu

Riviera Recovery has always been a champion of pet-friendly sober living, and we have believed in this since the days we first opened our doors. We are pet lovers ourselves, and we have seen how the bond between owner and pet can help the patient recovering from addiction make it through the roughest parts. Maybe it’s a California thing, maybe it’s being so close to the beach, but we just love our furry friends! Dogs lovers, we have just the spot for you. Bring your sweet boy or girl to stay with you at either one of our two houses – the original Riviera house or our new Surfview home, and you are just a short walk from the beach, where plenty of water activities await. Animals have been proven to have a positive impact on drug addiction and treatment. You are undoubtedly familiar with concepts like equine therapy, and there is good reason, Animal Therapy has many proven benefits, including helping patients with:
  • Interpersonal interactions
  • Mood
  • Stress-related variables such as cortisol, heart rate and blood pressure
  • Fear and anxiety
  • Cardiovascular diseases
We understand the calming effect pets can have on our patients. Additionally, pets force patients to care for something other than themselves, which can be a power motivational tool! Pet’s are a win-win. If you or your loved one needs comprehensive addiction therapy monitored by an expert staff at an extremely healthy, positive location in Malibu, call Riviera Recovery today. We are Pet Friendly, and can’t wait to help you begin your path to happiness! About Riviera Recovery Sober Living Our spacious sober living residence offers you or your loved one the chance to embark on a healthy and vibrant sober lifestyle with guidance from our highly qualified and experienced staff. Among the many addiction issues we treat are: Heroin addiction Opiate addiction Meth addiction Alcohol addiction Drug detox And more… The staff at Riviera Recovery will help you or your loved one take advantage of a strong drug addiction treatment program while we teach new skills to maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle. This new lifestyle includes healthy, rejuvenating practices such as diets rich in organic food, our private meditation room, far infrared sauna, our saltwater pool and spa, plus healthy exercise options such as yoga, Pilates, surfing, or paddle boarding. For more information on how Riviera Recovery can help you or a loved one embrace a new life through lasting sobriety, or for a tour of our center, please call (866) 478-8799 or click here to send a confidential message.
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Alcohol Rehab with Animals

The Benefits of Alcohol Rehab with Animals On Board

By the time you reach the point of seeking treatment for an alcohol problem, you are probably pretty beaten down in spirit.  Alcohol abuse and addiction can take a heavy toll on both the individual with the substance use disorder and anyone in his or her trajectory.  A wake of broken promises, disappointment, and decimated trust bonds may have caused a great deal of disruption in personal relationships during the illness.  In fact, sometimes it may seem as if the only friend you have left on the planet is your trusted pet. A beloved dog or cat does not judge you for being an alcoholic.  Animals may actually represent the ultimate judgment-free zone.  Now that many addiction treatment centers are pet friendly, those in early recovery can benefit from alcohol rehab with animals on board.  Pets provide unconditional love and support, and an overall boost in general well-being.  For this reason, many rehabs are now accommodating these furry friends right along with their humans in recovery.

How Alcohol Rehab with Animals Can Benefit Recovery

The process of healing and recovering from an alcohol use disorder can be enhanced with the presence of your loyal pet.  There are numerous health benefits associated with pet ownership, supporting both physical and mental well-being.  In fact, according to research out of Miami University and St. Louis University reported by the American Psychological Association, pet ownership can go a long way toward improving overall feelings of belonging, staving off feelings of rejection, and providing a happier, healthier existence than those without a pet in their life.  “The present work presents considerable evidence that pets benefit the lives of their owners, both psychologically and physically, by serving as an important source of social support,” the authors of the study wrote. For individuals in treatment for alcohol use disorders, having one’s dog or cat on board can provide a conduit for increased social interactions with others in rehab, as well as many other advantages.  The benefits of alcohol rehab with animals include the following:

Emotional Benefits of Alcohol Rehab with Animals

Overcoming a dependency on alcohol is incredibly difficult emotionally as well as physically.  Having one’s loving pet along can help provide a distraction from the internal struggle of early sobriety.  Owning a pet entails certain responsibilities.  The pet being with you at rehab relies on you to take care of it, forcing you to get outside of your own head for the benefit of another being.  Pets in rehab can offer several emotional benefits, including:
  • Decreased depression
  • Providing companionship
  • Reducing stress
  • Relieves boredom
  • Improving overall mood
  • Battling loneliness
  • Receiving and expressing love

Physical Benefits of Alcohol Rehab with Animals

Having a dog along in rehab can also promote physical health benefits.  Dogs need to be walked regularly, so by taking your dog to rehab you will be getting regular exercise.  Cardio has abundant benefits for physical well-being, including:
  • Decreased blood pressure
  • Lowers heart rates
  • Promotes better sleep quality
  • Improves overall fitness
  • Releases endorphins, improving mood
The many benefits of rehabs that are pet friendly on board make seeking out a pet friendly treatment program and sober housing environment quite advantageous to recovery.  Not only does having one’s beloved pet with them in treatment benefit the individual on many levels, but it also adds to the enjoyment of others with you in rehab.

Riviera Recovery Provides Alcohol Rehab with Animals

Riviera Recovery offers luxury pet-friendly sober living and recovery support in the beautiful hillsides of Malibu, California.  The team at Riviera Recovery understands the value of pet companionship in recovery and makes accommodations for your furry friends to accompany you.  Riviera approaches recovery with an emphasis on discovering the joys found in living a sober and healthy lifestyle, offering a wide array of activities and day trips.  For more information, contact Riviera Recovery today at (866) 478-8799.
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Pet Friendly Rehab

Addiction Treatment with the Comfort of Your Best Friend

The decision to deal with your addiction and enter sober living treatment can be a very emotional one. You may be concerned about leaving all of your responsibilities and your “old life” behind. But that’s the healthy fresh start you need to get on the path of sober living for recovery. There is one part of your life that you don’t need to leave behind – a very important part, indeed – and that’s your pet. Riviera Recovery is a high end sober living facility that is totally pet-friendly. Sober living should be a place of peace and contentment, and for many of us, we can’t achieve that peace without our special pet near us. Riviera Recovery is proud to offer pet friendly sober living, allowing our residents to feel safe, secure and totally at peace during their stay. There are many benefits to having pets with you during the sober living for recovery process, including: (Photo Courtesy of @CanonTheTerrier and Joan Allen)
  • Feeling comfort and connection: We have an unbreakable bond and deep connection to our pets – and having them there with us on our sober living journey allows a patient to feel a strong sense of comfort and connection during a time in which they may often feel uncomfortable and disconnected from their “old life”.
  • A familiar face: The decision to enter a sober living facility can have some people feeling very lonely – and as if they’ve completely lost touch with family and friends. A pet allows a person to maintain a sense of normalcy and familiarity, without having to deal with the often toxic baggage and stress that people from their past can cause them.
  • The ability to self-soothe: There are many difficult and uncomfortable emotions that arise during the drug rehab and sober living process. In the past, an addict would have turned to drugs or alcohol to deal with these issues. Now, they are learning healthier ways to process complex emotions and to self-soothe. One of these healthy ways to process emotions is to bond with your animal companion. Animals have the innate ability to provide comfort to their owners during difficult times.

Pet-Friendly Rehab and Sober Living at Riviera Recovery

Looking for the best pet friendly sober living in Los Angeles near Santa Monica? Riviera Recovery drug recovery center in Malibu, California gives addicts the skills, tools and healthy mental outlook they need to live their best sober life – and we help them do it with their pet by their side. To learn more about pet friendly sober living, contact one of our Admissions Specialists to learn more at 866-478-8799