Therapy dogs -- dogs trained to provide comfort to hospital patients and individuals in other care facilities -- and their handlers have been visiting patients in Memorial Hospital who have breast or gynecologic cancer as part of a program piloted by the Division of Social Work and the Department of Volunteer Resources. Based on the popularity of the pilot program, Caring Canines is expanding to include patients with gastrointestinal cancers and cancers of the pancreas, liver, and related organs.
Since the program's inception in October 2007, the seven participating dogs and their handlers have visited more than 690 patients. The visits take place twice a week at the patient's bedside or in a lounge and have included visits on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and New Year's Eve. With the expansion, program coordinator Tara Leflein anticipates six to seven new dogs will join the Caring Canine ranks. "The response has been very positive," said Ms. Leflein, who is also one of the handlers. "I had one patient's dad tell me this was the first time he'd seen his daughter smile in three weeks."
To participate in the program, the therapy dogs and their handlers must be certified by one of three nationally recognized therapy dog organizations -- Delta Society, Therapy Dogs International, or The Good Dog Foundation. As part of the certification process, the handler and dog are required to pass a series of evaluations to test behavior and skill level, and they must also follow strict hygiene standards set by the Caring Canines program. All of the dogs are required to wear Memorial Sloan-Kettering identification badges, and patients must obtain permission from their medical care team prior to participating.
The dogs and their handlers come to Memorial Sloan-Kettering through the Angel on a Leash program, a charity of the Westminster Kennel Club. The program is funded through a Quality of Life Grant from The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering.
