Therapy Dog Parade
May 18, 2020
With everything going on in the world, we could all use a little extra love. So, Yale New Haven Hospital found a way to bring back their beloved therapy dogs.
“We have an amazing team of therapy dogs, about 24 between our two campuses and our off-sites, and they are so missed,” said volunteer coordinator Virginia Kulig. “They miss coming in as well so the human handlers tell us the dogs are really missing work so one of my volunteers suggested to me, ‘why don’t we have a parade.’”
The event really was the first of its kind at Yale New Haven Hospital, bringing together more than a dozen of the hospital’s therapy dog volunteers.
Usually, these dogs are very busy.
“Last year between all of our campuses the dogs had about 35,000 encounters, so they’re touching the lives of many people who are in our facilities,” said Kulig.
Now, more than ever, they wanted to do something to show their appreciation for healthcare workers.
“So besides the patients that will be able to see this, this is really for the caregivers who are on those front lines every day as a way of saying thank you,” she said.
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 […]