Therapy dogs play important role at hospital
Fred Bartling of Arlington Heights and his Alaskan malamute Yukon always draw lots of attention when they visit with patients at Northwest Community Hospital.
Beyond his size - Yukon weighs 120 pounds - and height, allowing him to rest his head comfortably on a hospital bed, Yukon has an amazing story of his own to share.
The 3-year-old dog is a cancer survivor, having undergone eight months of chemotherapy to battle lymphoma and now is cancer free, Bartling says.
"We make a lot of trips to the oncology department," Bartling says, "and when you tell people he's a cancer survivor, patients just open up and share their own stories."
Bartling and Yukon are one of 80 teams of dogs and handlers that make their rounds, all part of Northwest Community Hospital's Animal Assisted Therapy program.
More than half of them gathered with their handlers last Saturday for a first-time recognition picnic hosted by the hospital.
The two-hour event took place on the grassy area near the hospital's main entrance. The dogs enjoyed an agility course before visiting with a canine masseuse and a canine communicator, while the handlers enjoyed trading stories.
"We don't gather together very often," Bartling says.
After some initial hesitation about bringing dogs into the hospital in 2007, and limiting the floors they could visit, officials now welcome them into all units - 365 days a year - except the adult emergency department.
They acknowledge that dogs can assist in reducing a patient's stress, pain, anxiety and loneliness, and that interaction with pets can raise a person's spirits and improve their physical well-being by lowering blood pressure and accelerating recovery times.
"The animals provide a dimension of care that is unlike any other therapy," says Kathy King, manager of the program. "Patients simply love the dogs. Our teams have made nearly 60,000 patient visits in nearly eight years."
Granted, Yukon might be one of the largest dogs in the program, but there is also a pair of Great Danes and a mastiff, as well as lots of mixed breeds. On the small end, they have a six-pound silky terrier, King says.
The program is not breed-specific, she says. Handlers must commit to volunteering at least twice a month and have bathed their dog within 24 hours of their four-hour shift.
However, the process to make it into the program is rigorous. Most dogs that apply go through training as therapy dogs, which teaches them how to navigate around wheelchairs and walkers and react to strange sounds, as well as how to interact with strangers - and other dogs.
Due to attrition, a new batch of 12 teams was recently accepted - out of 45 that applied - bringing the number back to 80. Professional dog trainers tested applicants for temperament and obedience.
The teams that passed will attend a three-day training course at the hospital with mock patient visits and a briefing on hospital policies and infection control practices.
Each dog wears a special bandanna when working with the program. The handlers also carry the dog's calling card, which contains its photo and pertinent information.
In Yukon's case, hospital members had to create a bigger bandanna because of his massive chest. He also sports a bandanna that identifies him as a cancer survivor.
"I always wanted to volunteer and be able to give back," Bartling says, "and to be able to do it with my dog is incredible. It's so much more rewarding than I ever dreamed. People really appreciate the visits - and they treat the dogs like celebrities."