Pet Therapy Now Available For EGRMC Patients

In April of 2010, East Georgia Regional Medical Center launched a long anticipated Pet Therapy Program as a part of an overall goal of better meeting the various needs of the hospital’s inpatient population.  Pawsitive Connections of Statesboro, a Chapter of Therapy Dogs International, is the local resource for these therapy dog associates.  They come with names such as Sadie, Heidi, Sunny, Barnabas, Bitsy, Tarrah, Wrigley and Jenga.  Their handlers are Laura Collins, Cheri Duffey, Linda Carlson, Jerri Kropp, Mary Rottier, Susan Humma and these handlers are expertly trained and certified in the use of their therapy dog(s) in hospitals, nursing homes, hospice settings, mental health settings or any other place where their therapy dogs may be of benefit to an individual or group of individuals.   

Therapy Dogs International, Inc. is a non-profit organization of volunteers organized to provide qualified handlers with their Therapy Dogs for visitations to institutions, facilities and any other place where Therapy Dogs are needed at no charge.  The primary objective of the TDI dog and handler is to provide comfort and companionship by sharing the dog with patients in hospitals, nursing homes, institutions and wherever else the Therapy Dog is needed.  This is done in a way that increases emotional well-being, promotes healing and improves the quality of life of those who are being visited and the staff who care for them.

Therapy Dogs will be on-site Sunday afternoons, Tuesday mornings and Tuesday afternoons for hospital patients.  If you would like Pet Therapy for your loved one, please ask the physician for a "PET THERAPY" referral.  For more information, please contact John Geerdes at 486-1989.
 

So, the next time you visit the hospital, don't be surprised if one of the Therapy Dogs greets you along the way.  And “yes,” it is okay to pet them.