Aultman Hospital is searching for well-behaved dogs of all sizes and their dedicated owners to participate in Happy Tails, a dog visitation program that exposes patients, family, visitors and staff to the positive experience of interacting with an animal. Registration is required by Feb. 17.
With the help of volunteers, the Aultman Hospital Happy Tails program provides a positive psycho-social experience and alternative therapy for patients. Research shows that spending time with a pet can reduce blood pressure and stress, normalize heart rate and improve circulation.
Current Happy Tails volunteers also express positive effects on their lives.
“We get back so much more than we give,” said Sandy Warder, a Plain Township resident who started volunteering at Aultman with her 2-year-old dog Harley in April. “It’s something I wanted to do for others. Little did I realize how much it would mean to both of us.”
Warder became interested in pet therapy when she saw family dogs visiting their loved ones at a nursing home where mother was also a patient. “The dogs were not trained in therapy, but they still brought lots of smiles to everyone.”
After researching which breeds typically make good therapy dogs, Warder chose a Goldendoodle puppy, which is a hybrid cross between a golden retriever and a standard poodle.
Warder and Harley are just one of the 26 dog/handler teams “working” at Aultman. “His job is to make people smile, and he’s definitely good at it,” she said.
