There’s a group of employees at PPMC whose sole job is improving the day of every person they meet. The dogs of the Presby Pooches: Leashes of Love pet therapy program didn’t attend medical school, and their snuggly, tail-wagging methods may be unorthodox, but they’ve established themselves as beloved members of the care team.
Extensive research has shown that pet therapy can effectively decrease blood pressure and heart rate, alleviate stress, provide emotional support, and ultimately improve patient outcomes, so the Volunteer Services and Nursing teams were thrilled when they were able to put together the program and bring four-legged friends to PPMC. Unsurprisingly, having “man’s best friend” visit the hospital regularly has become a huge hit.
Isaac, a golden retriever, and Lily, an adorable mutt, have been with the program since its 2017 launch, but their canine celebrity status on campus hasn’t deterred newcomer Cody (Great Pyrenees) or the latest addition to the team, Olie (Brussels Griffon). Each dog has been meticulously trained and officially certified to socialize and offer comfort in a health care setting, and they make regular visits — often in costume! — to patient rooms, waiting areas, and administrative offices alike to offer a welcome distraction from the challenges and stresses of health care.
One recent interaction was caught by Naimah Cann, coordinator of Volunteer Services. As a woman and her two-year old son were waiting to visit a family member, the boy spotted Isaac making his rounds. He lit up at the sight and said, “I love you, cute doggy!” The woman shared that their family was having a very difficult time because her mother was in the ICU. They couldn’t bring the family dog in to visit — but here came Isaac at the perfect time.
“It was such a sweet moment. Out of the hundreds of people we made smile that day, that little cutie’s was the brightest! Starting a pet therapy program at PPMC has been so rewarding, and it’s still growing. Our ‘dog-ployees’ bring joy to the lives of others and make visits filled with love,” Cann said. “The feedback is consistently amazing, and it’s quickly become a campus favorite. It’s so wonderful to see patients, visitors, and staff react so positively.”