Therapy Dogs Connect with Patients
Reprinted with Permission from Boston Medical Center's Newsletter MedCenter News

Canines are offering Boston Medical Center's (BMC) Department of Rehabilitation Services a new way to help patients achieve maximum independence. Since September, the department has been using a specially trained 3-year old golden retriever named Sir Bentley Bear to help provide comfort and offer companionship to hospitalized rehabilitation patients. The rehabilitation staff on 7 West found that many of their patients were longing for home and the things that reminded them of home, including family pets.

"Pet therapy is a fun and enjoyable way to help people undergoing rehabilitation improve their social, physical and cognitive disabilities and impairments," said Rebeccah Serino, therapeutic recreational specialist at BMC. "By simply spending time with animals - brushing, petting or playing ball with them - people undergoing physical or occupational therapy can work on fine and gross motor skills, memory, communication, socialization and other skills they may need to return to functional living following a disabling accident or illness."

Studies have also shown that caring for pets can help lower blood pressure, increase relaxation, and lessen anxiety and stress. Sir Bentley Bear visits BMC's rehabilitation center on 7 West of the Harrison Pavilion once a week with his owner Jeanne Brouillette of Medford. He is a registered pet therapy dog from Therapy Dog International Inc., a national volunteer group organized to provide qualified handlers and their therapy dogs for visitations to institutions. Bentley also passed the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen Test, where he had to meet requirements regarding his response to strangers and his ability to walk through crowds and obey commands.