Dogs and cats may lack the musical prowess of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart but they can appreciate soothing harp vibrations. Be it harp music in D (for dog) major or in C (for cat) major, canines and felines savor the healing power of music just as the great composer flips over the first crack of a musical note.

Several harpists claim that animals enjoy harp music just as humans do. Oregon-based Alianna Boone discovered that, indeed, harp music could lower heart rate, improve respiration, as well as diffuse anxiety among animals. Boone plays for ill family pets and has performed for hospitalized dogs at a Florida veterinary clinic in 2000.

The power of music to bring wellness to animals was also demonstrated by a group of gorillas at the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston when harpist Sue Raimund rendered a performance for the group. The youngest gorilla in the group was amused and became an instant admirer of the musician. The young gorilla even blew Raimund a kiss before taking his forty winks. Likewise, in Mendon, Massachusetts, it only took a CD of harp songs to calm a raving 1, 500-pound white and black cow known to have anxiety-related behavior. The cow dozed off after 20 minutes of exposure to harp music.

Diane Schneider, producer of the CD collection of harp songs which helped calm the 1 ,500 - pound cow, admonished, “It's not a magic bullet, but for animals for which it works, it works incredibly well.” Schneider trained at the University of Cincinnati – Conservatory of Music. She hopes that the therapy will be given due attention by animal loversin the future. “It is a very cost-effective, beneficial, soothing, calming intervention for animals and the people who love animals.” she added.