HARRISBURG, PA. (WHTM) — No, it’s not a petting zoo. These animals have a job to do.

Service and therapy animals were recognized at the Pennsylvania State Capitol today as part of Working Animal Appreciation Day.

Chase, just one of 200 therapy cats in the country, was one of those animals. He has worked as a therapy animal for 12 years.

“The cats and the dogs go to nursing homes, and we also do libraries where kids read to them and work on their literacy skills,” said Gwyneth Hayes, a pet handler with Caring Hearts Pet Therapy. The organization has Chase and seven other therapy cats as part of its program.

Other animals in attendance include State Police Mounted Patrol, working K-9s, service dogs, and search and rescue dogs.

The animals and their handlers demonstrate the wide range of work animals help with.

“They look for spotted lanternfly eggs, as well as box tree, moth eggs and larva,” said Shane Philipps, a compliance and enforcement specialist with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. “So, with the spotted lanternfly, we’re trying to help businesses not ship those spotted lanternfly eggs to places where they aren’t. And with box tree moth, we’re trying to look for eggs or larva coming in because we don’t really have box tree moth here in Pennsylvania.”

Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-Franklin/Adams) hosted the event so lawmakers could meet the animals and possibly pass legislation for them.

The annual event will run until 2 p.m. at the Capitol on Commonwealth Avenue.