Pet Therapy Volunteer team

Pet Therapy – visits from pets to people in hospital – is known to decrease depression. The interactions are calming, reduce anxiety and improve an individual’s overall psychological state.

As of 2022, when COVID-19 restrictions were in place earlier in the year, the small but dedicated Pet Volunteer Team at Grey Nuns Community Hospital visited 3,525 individuals, including patients, family members and staff. The team provided support through COVID-19, greeting patients, visitors and staff when restrictions meant they couldn’t go into the hospital. They are slowly making their presence known inside the site as things return to normal.

Pet therapist volunteer, Michele, and her dog, Blu, visit patients throughout the hospital, including the palliative care unit. One day a social worker asked Michelle to see a patient who did not have family. As Blu snuggled in the patient’s arms, Michelle learned that the patient had a 15-year old golden retriever. Within 24 hours, Ernie and Faith, two golden retrievers, arrived on the unit to have a meaningful and memorable visit with the patient.

Pets have a tremendous impact on the people they interact with. The Grey Nuns Pet Therapy Volunteer Team is generous with their time. They truly demonstrate compassion with every interaction they have with patients, family and staff.