Therapy dogs celebrated for ‘pawsitivity’ on National Dog Day at HCA Florida Englewood Hospital

Having a 'ruff' day? This will make you smile.
 
For 15 years, pet therapy dogs and their handlers have been valued members of the animal therapy program at HCA Florida Englewood Hospital. They visit the hospital three times monthly and have touched countless lives of patients, their loved ones and care teams.
 
To celebrate International Dog Day, hospital colleagues collected seven boxes of food and supplies for the Suncoast Humane Society, which provides this service. The canine caregivers enjoyed a party with special toys and gourmet pup-treats. The hospital announced a $500 donation to support the outreach of the pet therapy team.  
 
Long-time handler Mary Szydlowski visits patients and colleagues with her labradoodle, Max. She said, "Every time I come here, the patients and their visitors say, ‘You made my day,’ and we watch the stress leave their faces. They light up. It's remarkable."
 
Claire Berten, pet therapy team manager who has been with the Suncoast Humane Society program since the beginning, said, "We have 28 handlers and dog teams. Every two years, they are evaluated on obedience, tolerance and enthusiasm for seeing people. It is a bond between the dog and the handler."
 
On both ends of the leash, the handler and canine must meet the highest standards of practice in animal-assisted interventions. They are registered with Pet Partners, a leading organization in the therapy animal field that registers volunteer teams on five continents.
 
A study by the American Heart Association found that animal-assisted therapy helped heart and lung function by lowering pressures and decreasing anxiety among hospitalized patients after a 12-minute visit with man's best friend.
 
"When we first resumed visiting the hospital team members after the COVID-19 pandemic, I was visiting with my Golden Retriever, Bentley. One nurse dropped to her knees to pet him, and I will never forget that."
 
Ingrid Simke, also a volunteer who visited the hospital on the first day of the program in 2009, said, "I was a counselor. My job was to help people feel better. Having a dog with me now just makes me feel so good. I see the smile on their face."  
 
Philomena Lyon shared, "I went into a room where a patient was having a panic attack. Piper, a Pomeranian, and a Labradoodle, Willie, visited the patient and put their chin on her lap. The patient petted the dogs, and when the nurse returned, she said those dogs did more than the medication could have."
 
CEO Joe Rudisill said, "We are grateful for the service provided by the Suncoast Humane Society and proud to support them. They put a smile on the faces of our patients and give our healthcare team a moment to recharge before returning to patient care."  
 
Learn how we partner with other organizations to provide various community benefit programs and services. Visit https://bit.ly/4fYDYsG