Edward, Elmhurst hospitals seeking dogs for therapy programs

Posted January 16, 2018 10:00 pm

By Keith Hartenberger Edward-Elmhurst Health

Edward Hospital in Naperville and Elmhurst Hospital are seeking more dogs for their Animal-Assisted Therapy programs.

Edward's program began in 2002 with 15 teams of dogs and their handlers. Today it features nearly 70 such teams that have made more than 200,000 patient visits since the program started.

Elmhurst Hospital's teams, meanwhile, have made nearly 11,000 patient visits since the program began in 2012.

Dogs that meet qualification requirements will be scheduled for temperament testing on Wednesday or Thursday, March 7 or 8, within a two-hour time slot between 4 and 9 p.m. at the Edward Sleep Center, 27555 Diehl Road in Warrenville.

Dogs and their handlers selected for the Elmhurst program must attend mandatory training at Elmhurst Hospital, 155 E. Brush Hill Road, from 8:30 a.m. until noon on Wednesday, April 4, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday, April 14 and 15.

Dogs and their handlers selected for the Naperville program must attend mandatory training at Edward Hospital, 801 S. Washington St., from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 7 and 8.

To be considered, dogs must meet the following requirements:

• Sit/down/stay/heel/recall/leave-it on command.

• Walk loosely on a leash without pulling.

• Get along well with other dogs.

• Perform required commands without treats.

• Like people.

• Not be overly vocal.

• Be at least a year-old at time of testing.

• Have lived with handler for at least six months at time of testing.

• Current on all vaccinations.

• Free of skin problems.

• Prong collars, gentle leaders, harnesses and retractable leashes are not accepted.

• Handlers must be at least 18.

Handlers and their dogs are encouraged to have completed a group obedience training class within the past year.

For more information on the Elmhurst program, call Jessica Flores at (331) 221-3282 or email jessica.flores@eehealth.org.

For more information on the Naperville program, call Cynthia Brooks at (630) 527-5305 or email cynthia.brooks@eehealth.org.

Edward Hospital's Animal-Assisted Therapy teams have made more than 200,000 patient visits since the program began in 2002. Courtesy Edward-Elmhurst Health

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