Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) Program

We provide an Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) Program to patients and their families for therapeutic purposes. Scientific research has shown a patient's interaction with an animal can provide positive physical and emotional benefits, helping them to:

• Get up, move, walk, leave their room and play
• Participate in therapy (physical, occupational and speech)
• Forget their discomfort or pain for a while
• Interact more with others
• Improve their mood
• Improve their interactions with family and staff
• Do things that may be a struggle, such as eating, taking medication or waiting

The AAT Program includes both volunteer therapy animal teams and full-time employed facility dog teams. Our volunteer teams visit patients, families, and staff at events and at the bedside, improving their mood and helping them through tough days. Current therapy animals are pictured here.

Our facility dog teams work with staff to help patients meet treatment goals from physical therapy sessions to preparing for an upcoming surgery or procedure. The facility dogs live and work with their handlers and are specially trained to work full-time in the hospital setting.

Patient bedside visits are requested by the patient's doctors, nurses, occupational and physical therapists or child life specialists. We work with the patient's care team to create a session that works toward the patient's treatment goals.

For information on how to become involved in the program as a volunteer, check out our Animal-Assisted Therapy volunteer page.