Aultman Searches for Volunteer Dogs, Owners for Visitation Program
WANTED: A Few Good Dogs
CANTON, Ohio (Jan. 25, 2010) -- Aultman Hospital is searching for well-behaved dogs of all sizes and their dedicated owners to participate in Happy Tails, a dog visitation program that exposes patients, family, visitors and staff to the positive experience of interacting with an animal. Registration is required by Feb. 17.
With the help of volunteers, the Aultman Hospital Happy Tails program provides a positive psycho-social experience and alternative therapy for patients. Research shows that spending time with a pet can reduce blood pressure and stress, normalize heart rate and improve circulation.
Current Happy Tails volunteers also express positive effects on their lives.
“We get back so much more than we give,” said Sandy Warder, a Plain Township resident who started volunteering at Aultman with her 2-year-old dog Harley in April. “It’s something I wanted to do for others. Little did I realize how much it would mean to both of us.”
Warder became interested in pet therapy when she saw family dogs visiting their loved ones at a nursing home where mother was also a patient. “The dogs were not trained in therapy, but they still brought lots of smiles to everyone.”
After researching which breeds typically make good therapy dogs, Warder chose a Goldendoodle puppy, which is a hybrid cross between a Golden Retriever and a Standard Poodle.
Warder and Harley are just one of the 26 dog/handler teams “working” at Aultman. “His job is to make people smile, and he’s definitely good at it,” she said.
Getting Involved
A licensed evaluator from the Delta Society Pet Partner Program will hold a Team Training Course for potential handlers 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Feb. 27, at Aultman Hospital. Those successfully completing the training course will be evaluated on March 6. Call Aultman Hospital Volunteer Services at 330-363-6368 for more information.
The Delta Society Pet Partner program began in 1977 and was established to promote mutually beneficial relationships with animals to improve people’s health, independence and quality of life. Aultman began the Happy Tails program in 2002 with the assistance of Delta.
About Aultman
The Aultman Health Foundation is a not-for-profit health-care organization serving Stark and surrounding counties. The vertically integrated institution includes Aultman Hospital, the locally managed health-insurance provider AultCare and the Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences. With 682 beds, 530 active physicians and a staff of more than 5,000 employees, Aultman is Stark County’s largest hospital. For more information, visit www.aultman.org.
Media Contact
Leslee Dennis, Corporate Communications
330-363-5319, ldennis@aultman.com
CAPTION: Happy Tails volunteer Sandy Warder and Harley, her 2-year-old Goldendoodle,
enjoy a visit with Aultman Hospital patient Doris Roberts of Canton.
