St. Jude Therapy Dogs
September 18, 2020
Canines—and their humans, too—are encouraged to take a walk as part of Paws for St. Jude during National Dog Week from September 20-26. St. Jude therapy dogs Huckleberry and Puggle have their own fundraising pages, so participants can join one of their teams, grab a leash and walk their own dogs to make a PAWSitive difference for the kids of St. Jude.
Because of initiatives like this one and the St. Jude Walk/Run on Sept. 26, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is able to freely share the discoveries it makes, so every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists can use that knowledge to save thousands more children worldwide.
Thanks to Huckleberry and Puggle, the St. Jude PAWS at Play program has brightened the days of patients and hospital employees alike. As hospital dogs, they are specially certified to provide animal-assisted therapy for patients and families, from offering support during procedures to motivating patients to move after surgery.
Events like PAWS for St. Jude demonstrate that even when there are social distancing guidelines in place, people (and their pooches) can still make a difference for others and the children at St. Jude. More importantly, their commitment to raise funds helps ensure that St. Jude has the freedom to focus on what matters most – saving kids regardless of their financial situation.
Most Recent News
Former Victoria man’s diabetic alert dog helps him get back to life
When Luke Hengen’s diabetes worsened in his early twenties, it stripped him of the outdoor activities where the country kid felt at home. Countless wilderness adventures and years of hard-fought football games took a toll on his body, to the point where he could no longer sense when his blood sugar was too high or […]
Students Get Therapy Dog
When middle school students return to class on Jan. 11, they’ll find a new face at the door: Daisy. Daisy is a therapy dog and the personal pet of Rob Kreger, principal of the Rock L. Butler Middle School. The five-year-old golden retriever is not a school pet or mascot, but rather a working dog […]
Therapy Dogtor
Last March, Caroline Benzel, a third-year medical student, began to notice the stress and discomfort her nurse friends were feeling from the pressures of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. “[Personal protective equipment] can be really rough on the skin,” Benzel, 31, tells PEOPLE. Benzel and her 3-year-old Rottweiler, Loki (who’s also a therapy dog) hatched a […]
Therapy Dog Pups
When Stanley the miniature fox terrier’s owner passed away, the little dog started a ‘paw-some’ new role – bringing puppy love to some of the Gold Coast’s oldest residents. After Carinity Cedarbrook Diversional Therapist Julianne Staff adopted Stanley, he began visiting the aged care community at Mudgeeraba as a therapy dog. Therapy dogs help to […]
Puppy Cams
A nonprofit is providing an unusual form of therapy for those on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic – puppy cams! “You spend five minutes with a puppy and try not to smile,” said registered nurse Robin Lingg Lagrone. Lingg Lagrone says watching little furballs wag their tails and prance on their paws helps […]
Pet Committee
When Moore County’s school doors were abruptly closed earlier in 2020, two- and four-legged volunteers from the Moore County Citizens’ Pet Responsibility Committee (PRC) were in their 12th year of presenting a six-session Pet Responsibility Education Program for fourth-graders. The PRC quickly shifted gears and placed its program materials online as part of a home […]