A half-dozen pups and their owners tried out for the Scripps Canine Therapy Program. The dogs underwent a rigorous audition to qualify for a spot.
years is a long time in dog years,” Curry says. To participate, dogs must be at least 1 year old and have an American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen certificate. While therapy dogs are often Labradors, golden retrievers and poodle mixes, the breed is less important than temperament and good behavior. Curry says Scripps’ therapy dogs have included an Alaskan Malamute, Great Dane, bulldog and a three-legged mixed breed. Therapy dogs and their human companions must be OK with hospital sounds and smells, polite, and able to maneuver the hospital setting without getting in the way.
Longtime Scripps canine therapy volunteer Rosemary Van Gorder and her 3-year-old lab, Zegen, were on hand to show the newbies the ropes.
n a not-so-average morning at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, six well-mannered dogs and their owners could be seen parading through the corridors. The pack walked calmly from the entryway fountain to an elevator and into a narrow hallway, passing crutches, walkers, IV stands and strangers with outstretched hands hoping for a dose of puppy love. While charming to behold, this was no walk in the park—or lobby, as the case may be. These dogs were auditioning for a volunteer spot in Scripps’ Canine Therapy Program, relaunched after a pandemic-era hiatus. Candidates that are selected will join the roster of therapy dogs bringing comfort and socialization to patients and hospital staff at Scripps facilities throughout San Diego County. “The hospital environment can be stressful for patients,” says Denelle Curry, Scripps’ canine therapy advisor. “Just a therapy dog walking into a patient's room can cut the tension immediately. People who are not feeling well and are stressed often start smiling and relax a bit more. It can really make a difference.” In a hospital setting, it’s been shown that therapy dogs provide comfort and support and help reduce patients’ anxiety. For health care providers, therapy dogs boost mood and help reduce stress. About 30 dogs are currently enrolled in Scripps’ Canine Therapy Program, around half what it was pre-pandemic. “Two to three Scripps restarts its “pawpular” canine therapy program HOSPITAL HOUNDS O
Teresa Friedrich had a hunch her 4-year-old pup, Ace, was canine therapy material. A Labrador and golden retriever mix, Ace is gentle with everyone from babies to her husband’s 92-year-old grandmother, who uses both a walker and a wheelchair. “He’s very sweet. He’s very tolerant,” Friedrich explains. “He will lay his head on you, and it’s really relaxing.” Ace handled the audition with ease, even passing up strategically placed dog treats while listening to Friedrich’s commands. Rosemary Van Gorder, wife of Scripps Health CEO Chris Van Gorder, has been volunteering with her therapy dogs since 2007. She watched the recent audition with her 3-year- old Labrador retriever, Zegen, at her feet. Zegen has been a fixture at several Scripps locations since February 2023. Van Gorder says people are naturally drawn to Zegen, and she certainly appreciates the pets and attention. “The staff are very appreciative,” she says. “It feels really nice to know that we’re helping everybody—patients, employees and physicians.” Scripps Health’s volunteer services manager, Jill Sandman, says hospital volunteers, both human and canine, are needed. For people interested, there are various roles, such as welcoming guests, helping staff and patients in nursing units and working in the gift store. Volunteers must be at least 15 years old and commit to helping a few hours a week.
To learn more, visit Scripps.org/SDCanineTherapy .
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