There’s a reason dogs have earned the title of “man’s best friend.” For centuries, they’ve been loyal companions, bringing joy and comfort to millions of people. Their calming presence, unconditional love, and forgiving nature make them perfect candidates for therapy work, where they can offer immense emotional and physical benefits.
Emergency Department Nurse Leader, Molly Leeper, RN and Erika Pesce, RN spend a few precious minutes with Barry.
Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is a therapeutic intervention that includes animals as a vital part of the healing process. Dogs, especially, play an important role. According to Pet Partners, the largest therapy pet organization, 94 percent of their registered therapy animals are dogs, underscoring how effective they are in this role. Through activities like petting, playing, and simply spending time with these animals, patients experience reduced stress, a deep sense of connection, and a judgment-free companion by their side. Studies even show that owning a dog can lower the risk of heart disease by 36 percent!
Recognizing the positive impact of dog therapy Trinity Health Of New England recruited therapy dogs to visit ministries throughout the region during the TogetherCare go-live period. Dogs and their handlers visited all three markets over the course of the first week of go-live. At Saint Mary’s, K-9 Ollie the poodle stopped by various units on Tuesday, while little Barry, a dachshund-Shih Tzu mix from Puerto Rico made a stop on Thursday. At Saint Francis, K-9 Darwin and his handler visited with colleagues around the hospital on Monday. Colleagues at Mercy welcomed Tess the black lab, a therapy dog from Hampden County Sheriff’s Office’s Emotional Support Division. Each interaction brought smiles, laughter and calm.
