Twenty pet-parent volunteers with Certified Therapy Dog Inc. brought their dogs and Christmas cheer to the pediatric and adult patients and staff of HCA Florida Palms West Hospital. The pack went from room to room rubbing noses and wagging tales to cheer up patients who were unable to be home on Christmas Day.
The certified therapy dogs, large and small, have become regular visitors at the hospital over the past two years, but the special Christmas visit was arranged by Certified Therapy Dog Inc. founder Alan Levine.
“I tell the volunteers that we walk into the hospital but float out because these visits bring us as much joy as they do the patients,” Levine said.
Joining the dogs were Santa Claus and some elves, whose visit was arranged by pediatrician Dr. Andrea Horbey. To learn more about Certified Therapy Dog Inc., and how to join classes to train your dog as a therapy dog, visit www.certifiedtherapydog.com.