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Arthur LaFleur receives a visit from Riley and handler Diane Elliott at Hospice of the Valley's Gardiner Home in Phoenix. Sometimes the gentle nudge of a dog's paw is all it takes to brighten a patient's day. Rob Schumacher/The Republic
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Therapy animals brighten hospice patients' days
12/10/2008
The Arizona Republic
By Connie Cone Sexton
Louis Garno lifted his hand and began to pat the soft fur of Riley, a golden retriever that owner Diane Elliott had brought to the Gardiner Home in Phoenix.
"He likes that," Elliott said recently as Garno gave a little tap on Riley's head. Soon the Hospice of the Valley patient was smiling and thinking back to a dog his son had owned.
The gentle nudge of Riley's paw was all it took to brighten his day, he said. Elliott was making the rounds at Gardiner as part of her volunteer work with Pet Connections, an animal therapy program at the hospice organization.
Visits from friends and family are welcome sights, but there's something about an animal that brings a little joy into the room, says Katie Howland O'Brien, Pet Connections director.
Most of the visitors are dogs, but there is one cat and even one bunny. And waiting int he wings? A miniature horse that probably will be certified by spring.
Howland O'Brien, an ex-investment banker, began the therapy program at the hospice group in June 2006, after running her own program. She came on board at the request of Dr. Gillian Hamilton, administrative medical director at the group.
The benefit of sharing an animal with the patients is something Howland O'Brien has experienced, firsthand, in visits she has made with her dog, Mr. Sundance.
The Pet Connections program has nearly 120 volunteers.
On Thursday, volunteer Linda Hueftlein brought her 11-year-old Yorkshire terrier, Cissy-Meri, to Hospice of the Valley's Sherman Home in northeast Phoenix. Patient Ann Minniegerode's eyes widened when Cissy-Meri came onto her lap.
"This means so much to me," Hueftlein said.
COMFORT AND JOY IN FUR COATS
Pet Connections 'therapists' bring bright eyes, patience, lots of unconditional affection to task of easing suffering of Hospice of the Valley patients
Stormy
If you think Stormy will hop off patient's laps, think again. Most times, owner Stephanie Schmidt says he'll just cuddle right up to them and drift asleep. The rabbit is 3 1/2 is going into his third year of helping patients. Stormy had a close call early in life. He was found soaked during a rainstorm and nursed back to health. Schmidt took him in and her cats took over raising him. "He became a goofy bunny," she said. Patients gravitate to Stormy because he so soft. "A lot of times, patients need something to hug and cry with."
Cali
Dementia patient who meet Andrea Zampella met her 2-year-old dog Cali, a bichon-poodle mix that she found abandoned at a gas station. She's been giving back to people now for about five months, Zampella said. One patient was so happy with Cali but was confused, thinking it was his former dog. "She just brought back happy memories of his childhood."
Cissy-Meri
Linda Huefflein says her Yorkshire terrier, Cissy-Meri, can't wait to go make the rounds of hospice patients. "This morning, she got on the bed, spun around, like she was saying, 'Yeah, we're going to see our friends.' The 11-year-old has been in the program for two years. "I'm simply a carriage for the princess," Hueftlein said.
Patina
Patina is 4 years old and half golden retriever, half yellow lab. She's been in the Pet Connections program for more than two years.
Owner Pat Severance said she wanted to find a place she could be of help to others. "I'm able to bring her in with her unconditional love for the patients," Severance said. "A lot of times when I go in, the patient is non-responsive. But when Patina puts her paws on the bed, they start to pet her and smile."
Kenny
Kenny, an 11-year-old shorthair cat, spent more than a year at the Arizona Welfare League with no one wanting to adopt him, possibly because he had a liver condition, said owner Diane McGuire. But when she saw his big green eyes, she was smitten. He became her, or maybe vice versa. Kenny has spent much of his latter years helping soothe those going through tough times. He's been in the hospice program for more than a year, winning patients' hearts. "He automatically stretches out and, with a deep-throated purr, does his kitty magic."
Riley
Diane Elliott get's a little choked up when thinking about a visit she made with Riley, a 4-year-old yellow lab. They had come to see a woman who was having a difficult time. Riley came in close and patient reached over and began to pet him. Elliott said the transformation was amazing. "She turned to me and said, 'I'm in so much pain but when I'm with your dog, it doesn't hurt so much."