A hospital is a place of health, hope, and healing. Healing is not only about recovering physically but feeling good on the inside too. That’s where furry companions with wagging tails, wet noses, and a gentle demeanor can help.
“Therapy dogs have been shown to help reduce stress and anxiety, lower blood pressure and heart rates, while at the same time providing an instrument to stimulate conversation and improve communication. These benefits impact both the patients and the staff,” said Jed Pidcock, director of patient experience and volunteer coordinator at Iredell Health System.
Iredell Health System partners with Alliance of Therapy Dogs to bring these four-legged pals to patients, spreading happiness and comfort along their healing journey.
Alliance of Therapy Dogs is an international registry of certified therapy dog teams. They provide testing, certification, registration, support and insurance for members who volunteer with their dogs in animal-assisted activities. Their objective is to form a network of caring individuals and their special dogs who are willing to share smiles and joy with people.
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Iredell Memorial Hospital has always enjoyed having therapy dogs walking the hallways and greeting patients. However, due to the pandemic and visitor restrictions, the therapy dog program was temporarily suspended. The program returned this year, and visitors, patients and staff were happy to hear the pitter-patter of paws back in the hospital.
“The program was halted during COVID as health systems across the country were trying to limit the spread of the disease by limiting access. But now, patients and staff are excited to see them back,” said Pidcock.
Therapy dogs in a hospital setting have many benefits that span beyond bringing joy.
“They have been proven to lower blood pressure and take the patient’s mind off their problem. Just being around a dog changes the whole attitude,” said Vickie Blair, Alliance of Therapy Dogs tester and therapy dog volunteer at Iredell Memorial Hospital.
Blair has seen many of these benefits firsthand when she brings her own furry friend, Driver, a 6-year-old whippet, to comfort patients.
“One day, Driver and I were visiting a patient, and a girl ran up and said, ‘Can you come to my dad’s room and bring your dog? My dad has been upset for the past hour, and we can’t get him calmed down.’ We went in the room, and within 10 minutes, he was asleep,” said Blair.
“On another occasion, there was one particular patient that the nurse came to me and asked me to visit. The patient had just found out she had cancer and had been crying. I walked into the room, and she was a dog person. She immediately pulled out pictures of her dog and wanted Driver to get up on the bed with her to comfort her. She was laughing and telling me about her dog in just a few minutes. Just taking the patient’s mind off their problem for a little bit helps a lot,” added Blair.
According to the Alliance of Therapy Dogs website, therapy dogs provide an emotional connection with hospital patients that can help them cope with their current medical situation. If a patient is feeling stressed, scared, or in pain, being around an animal can help soothe their worries. Therapy dogs can also offer physical comfort by allowing patients to pet them, which may relieve tension and regulate the cardiovascular system.
Blair and Driver volunteer their time at Iredell Memorial Hospital once a week and she wants to encourage others to consider signing up with the Alliance of Therapy Dogs to volunteer at the hospital as well. “I want to get the word out so we can have more dogs come. If we could get a dog here every day of the week, that would be fabulous,” she said.
What makes a good therapy dog?
“A good therapy dog needs to be gentle, love people, and get along well with other dogs,” said Blair.
The Alliance for Therapy Dogs (ATD) look for well-mannered, well-behaved dogs that enjoy meeting people. ATD doesn’t require formal training, certifications, or outside testing. ATD is open to register any breed of dog except wolf or coyote mixes because the rabies vaccination is not proven to be effective with those breeds. A dog must be at least 1-year-old, have a calm and gentle disposition, and be attentive to its handler.
ATD has a unique testing process that involves handling your dog. Their testing is designed to make sure you and your dog have a good relationship with each other and that your dog has the right temperament for therapy dog work. After the test, a Tester/Observer will monitor you and your dog during three visits to facilities that include two visits to a medical facility. The Tester/Observer for Iredell Health System is Blair. During these supervised visits, Blair will observe you and your dog in action. If all goes well, Blair will pass you and your dog and recommend you for certification.
“You don’t have to really have the dog professionally trained, but the dog has to be under your control and know how to accept commands like stay and sit. What we are watching for is any signs of aggression as they would be ruled out immediately,” said Blair.
Anyone interested in participating in the therapy dog program can reach out to the Iredell Health System Volunteer Program at 704-878-4524. Requirements include that the dogs are up-to-date with their vaccines and can provide temperament training certification through ATD. To learn more about the training certification, interested people can speak to Vickie Blair with the Alliance of Therapy Dogs at vblair2@yahoo.com.
