Therapy dogs at Bluewater Health are giving patients plenty to smile about.
Five dogs ranging in size visit the hospital's mental health unit on a weekly basis.
Recreation Therapist Beth Core said the dogs help patients relax by taking them away from the hospital setting.
"Before the program even begins, the patients would come up to me all smiles, and excited to finding out when the dogs are coming in," said Core. "Then once in the room, the expressions on their faces is priceless. Smiling, laughing, talking to the dogs, reminiscing about their own dogs. It's very easy to see the results."
The small dogs are made up of Suzette, a Shetland Sheepdog, and Rags, a Boston Terrier.
The group is rounded out by JJ, a rescued Greyhound, and Kima and Casey who are Standard Poodles.
Core said she sees the benefits with patients from young to old.
"When someone comes into the unit, especially children, they tend to be a little bit nervous and frightened. The dogs just kind of provide that reassurance and comfort for them, as well as their parents, and we just notice how much the staff enjoy it as well."
The program, in accordance with the St. John Ambulance, has been at Bluewater Health for two and a half years.
Core said while she loves hearing from people who want to sign their dogs up for the program, Bluewater Health is at capacity with the five dogs they currently have.
