Who Let the Dogs In? Patients’ Spirits Lifted by Visiting Pet Program

November 2, 2009 -- STANFORD, CA -- From our good friends at News Health Digest.com -- Stanford Hospital patient Norma Jean Jackson visits with Rita and her owner, Robert Higa, as part of the Pet-Assisted Wellness at Stanford program. As she moves confidently through the hallways of Stanford Hospital, Rita’s official badge swings back and forth with each step. There’s no MD after her name, but her skills as a healer could justify it. When Rita pays a visit to a patient, the atmosphere instantly brightens. Click here for full story.

Mandy Helps Kids with Developmental Challenges

October 14, 2009 -- LIMA, OH-- From our good friends at Seattle pets.com-- Lima Memorial Health System in Ohio is thrilled to have a new hospital auxiliary member….but as their newsletter states "the new member is not your ordinary member. The newest member is a therapy dog named Mandy".

Ray and his wife rescued Mandy, a German Shepherd and Golden Retriever mix, from a local humane society. Ray and Mandy have been a busy Delta Society Pet Partners team since 2002. They volunteer within six areas of the hospital including the Children's Developmental Center (CDC). Whole story here!

An Aide for the Disabled, a Companion, and Nice and Furry

August 25, 2009 -- FRESNO, CA -- Because she suffers from a rare genetic disorder, 17-year-old Siobhan O’Connor walks with braces and cannot speak. Her assistance dog, Gaynor, helps Siobhan keep her balance and navigate crowds when she leaves her Santa Monica, Calif., home. The dog can also pick up dropped items or open and close doors. “Gaynor has been a tremendous help for my daughter physically, and a great bridge socially,” said Siobhan’s mother, Linda Karr O’Connor. Full story from he NY Times here!

Puppy is Learning Warning Scents to Protect 6-year-old Diabetic

The easiest part of Rex's job is loving Seth. For that, the black Labrador retriever needed no training. "It was instant bonding," said Patience Waite, Seth's mom, of the moment this summer when her 6-year-old met his new dog at an airport in Memphis, Tenn. Rex was 6 weeks old then and embarking on a career as the Mesa boy's diabetes-alert dog, a four-legged alarm system being trained to warn of dangerous swings in the youngster's blood glucose. Seth, who will be a first-grader at Falcon Hill Elementary School, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 4. Full Story Here!