Therapy Dog Program
Our Paws for Patients program allows volunteers and their qualified dogs to engage with patients and staff throughout the hospital. Must be 18 years or older to participate and able to commit to at least two visits per month. All participating dogs must be qualified by an approved therapy dog organization.
For more information, contact the specific campus where you’d like to volunteer.
Benefits of Animal Therapy
Mental Health
- Lifts spirits and lessens depression
- Decreases feelings of loneliness, isolation, and alienation
- Encourages communication
- Provides comfort
- Increases socialization
- Reduces boredom
- Lowers anxiety
- May help children manage speech and emotional disorders
- Creates motivation for the client to recover faster
Physical Health
- Lowers blood pressure
- Improves cardiovascular health
- Releases endorphins that have a calming effect
- Diminishes overall physical pain
- The act of petting a therapy dog produces an automatic relaxation response
Therapy Dog at a Children's Hospital
Meet Rigby, a therapy dog who bring smiles, comfort, and cuddles to our young patients, families, and care teams at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital. During visits to the hospital with her owner David Fritz, the gentle golden retriever brightens each room she enters.