Health Compass Newsletter
Back to Late Spring 2023
Pet therapy program returns
A wagging tail and a furry face are a welcome sight at CMH these days. We're thrilled that our pet therapy program has returned after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19.
"We are very excited to be scheduling pet therapy teams again and are currently recruiting new teams to go through the certification and onboarding process," says Laurie Olds, volunteer coordinator.
Volunteers and pets in the pet therapy program visit the hospital to greet caregivers and patients. The pets and handlers are certified and registered through the Pet Partners Program, a national leader in demonstrating and promoting the health and wellness benefits of animal-assisted therapy, activities and education.
Pets and handlers prepare for certification by going through a series of classes led by a local trainer. The training fees are covered by CMH if the team onboards as volunteers at the hospital. During the classes, teams learn to complete tasks such as walking past treats or toys without getting distracted. Pets must learn to stay calm in a busy hospital environment.
A Leonberger dog, Gus, and his handler, Christina, were the first pet therapy team back at CMH. The pair would walk throughout the hospital, visiting different departments and patients. Sadly, Gus passed away March 15, 2023, from cancer, but not before visiting patients and caregivers at CMH one last time. He is greatly missed.
Another pet therapy team is currently working through the certification process. Pet Partners certifies many types of animals. CMH is open to onboarding diverse volunteer teams that have been approved for the program.
Categories: Pet therapy