Therapy dogs giving 'paws' that refreshes

A new therapy program at St. Mary's Hospital in Amsterdam has folks asking, "Who let the dogs out?"

Or, rather, in?

Three pooches -- two Great Pyrenees named Honor and Glory, and a Boston terrier known as Gem -- routinely visit patients, making their rounds among the Mental Health In-Patient Unit, the Behavioral Health Out-Patient Unit and the Alcohol Rehab Unit.

Qualities

The therapy dogs are owned by Debra Middleton of Broadalbin, a former technician at the hospital. She has owned Great Pyrenees dogs for 20 years and knew that the breed would make great therapy dogs.

"They're gentle and intelligent, and they love people," she said. "They really are the perfect breed for therapy work."

She and her canine companions can be found each Monday helping patients and their families cope with illness and the emotional distress that often accompanies it.

Loving touch

Two years ago, the title of honorary chaplain was bestowed on Honor by the New York State Association of Fire Chaplains for his work with a child he encountered at Albany Medical Center.

The boy, 2, had been born without hands; but, when he saw the dog, he wanted to pet him. The mother asked and Mrs. Middleton agreed, but she noticed that, when he rubbed his arms over the dog's back, he could not feel the fur.

"His mother rolled up his pant legs, and we put him up on Honor's back," she recalled. "Suddenly, this beautiful smile lit up his little face. He was feeling dog fur for the first time ever."

Bow-wow factor

The therapy dog program at St. Mary's began just a month ago, but David Pilliod, director of the Pastoral Care Center, said the idea has been in the works for a while.

"We designed this program to bring comfort and stimulation to patients and their families that visit our center because we want to assist them in any way we can," he explained. "Often, people in rehabilitation are uncomfortable sharing their feelings. Sometimes, they are even afraid to do so. When people are with these dogs -- touching, petting and praying with them -- they seem to open right up, relax and allow the presence of these animals to heal them."

Mrs. Middleton said that her dogs, have been carefully trained to provide solace, gentleness and affection to those they encounter.

"People in the hospital are given news that directly affects their lives, and sometimes the news isn't good. The dogs give them a sense of joy and comfort," she said.

Out and about

In addition to spending their time at St. Mary's, the dogs visit Albany Medical Center, the Stratton VA Hospital in Albany, schools and nursing homes. They also participate in the Schenectady Public Schools' canine reading assistance program.

Mr. Pilliod hopes the St. Mary's program can be expanded in the future so that the dogs can visit other areas of the hospital.

"These dogs bring a unique opportunity to patients and their families," he noted. "The value of therapy dogs is real. One study done by the American Heart Association shows that [interaction with] therapy dogs lowers anxiety, stress, and heart and lung pressure among heart failure patients."

Smiles and tears

Mrs. Middleton said she frequently has tears in her eyes when she sees the reaction to her dogs.

"Their very presence in a room draws people to them," she noted. "Everywhere we go, people smile when they see the dogs. I named them to follow the Scripture passage, 'As we honor the Lord, He gets all the glory.'

"Watching what God does through them always makes my heart sing."

(Honor, a five-year-old male, weighs 125 lbs. Glory, a five-and-a-half-year-old female, weighs 90. Gem, a three-and-a-half-year-old, tips the scales at 12. Honor wears a pair of brightly colored sunglasses and a paw bracelet. The glasses detract attention from his size, which Mrs. Middleton said can sometimes intimidate people. The paw bracelet with its smiley faces is "just for fun." Honor has been trained to "pray" with people by bowing his head.)

(03/27/08) [[In-content Ad]]