Spending time with an adorable, friendly, well-mannered therapy dog adds a dose of joy to your hospital experience. Our Animal-Assisted Activity Program brings a certified therapy team — therapy dog and volunteer handler — to deliver comfort, companionship, happiness, and fun as you heal.
These special animals have the temperament and skills to safely brighten your day, whether you are a patient or a member of our healthcare team. Every dog and handler in our program is tested, registered, and insured by a national or regional pet therapy organization. We welcome therapy dog teams registered with these organizations:
Alliance of Therapy Dogs
Comfort Caring Canines
Pet Partners
Therapy Dogs International
Our therapy dog and handler teams complete an orientation, obtain security clearances, share veterinary records, and are mentored by experienced Doylestown Hospital therapy dog handlers.
How Therapy Dogs Can Help
Therapy dog interactions can boost your mood and bring a smile to your face. Our therapy dogs are a pleasant distraction from the reason you are in the hospital and a tail-wagging reminder of a pet in your life. If you are feeling stressed, the companionship of a therapy dog can be a good antidote. Just petting a dog can help lower stress-related increases in heart rate and blood pressure.
While the Animal-Assisted Activity we provide adds comfort and peace to your patient experience, we do not provide goal-oriented pet therapy in which an animal is integral to clinical healthcare treatment.
