Similar stories

Bronx man starts first veterinary regenerative stem-cell therapy equipment distributorship

Throggs Neck couple has New York City’s first baby of 2012

Judge Allows state to remove Soundview Health Center from Medicaid

Acacia Network Celebrates Vets

Pioneering Monetfiore residency programs celebrates 40 years

Judge keeps Espada’s Soundview Health Center open and on Medicaid for now, more hearings scheduled

Tools

Print this story

Facebook this

Tweet this

Digg this

Del.icio.us

Email to a friend

Your name

Your email address

Recipients’ email addresses (Up to ten, separated by commas.)

Montefiore Medical Center’s most popular new volunteer is furry, has four legs and goes by the name Spirit.

Spirit, a dog, is the first animal to be part of the new pet therapy program in Montefiore’s palliative care unit. He has been visiting patients, all of whom are terminally ill, twice a month since late December. Any patient in the 34-bed unit can request a visit with Spirit while at the hospital. The goal of the program is to boost patient psyche with the presence of an animal.

“He reminds me of my own dogs,” said patient Anne Wadsley, a Harrington Avenue native. “The dog is energetic. And dogs are very friendly, especially when you’re sick.”

The pet therapy program has been in the works for years at Montefiore, but only recently became a reality. There was bureaucratic red tape, and the matter of finding a dog to participate before the program got started. Spirit was recruited through his owner, who had previously volunteered at Montefiore.

“We had been talking about this for a couple of years,” said Doris Brown, nurse manager of the palliative care unit.

“There were issues about bringing a dog into a hospital environment, for example you may have a patient who is allergic to dogs,” Brown said. “And who would be responsible for the dog?”

Many other hospitals across the country use pet therapy as well. And Montefiore’s young program has been a resounding success.

“It’s better than I ever imagined,” Brown said. “The benefits and rewards are immediate. It really has been awesome in terms of boosting patient and staff morale. You can see the physical response from the patients.”

Dr. Rose Guilbe, director of Montefiore’s palliative care unit also said the program has become an asset since it was implemented.

“It’s a form of healing that’s soothing for patients,” she said. “It relaxes them. It allows them to interact them a dog that takes their mind away from I.V. poles, and medication. It’s extremely therapeutic.”

Spirit, and any other animal that joins the program, must go through a special training process, so that their behavior is relatively predictable in a hospital setting. Anyone interested in volunteering their pet for the pet therapy program can contact Montefiore’s volunteer department for more information.

©2012 Community Newspaper Group