Pickles the Therapy Dog is turning heads and calming nerves at the Kaiser Permanente Richmond Medical Center.
With the temperament of the Dalai Lama, the 7-year-old female goldendoodle began visiting hospital patients once a week in September with her owner, nurse manager Brittany Walker, RN.
In January, Pickles got patient Shanna Fuller’s love and attention as soon as she walked into Fuller’s room.
“I like that dog’s attitude,” said Fuller, as Pickles gently nuzzled her hand. “She’s the star of the show.”
Pickles is a hospital therapy dog. After receiving extensive training and certification, Pickles became an official Kaiser Permanente volunteer and immediately started bringing down stress in the hospital.
“Dogs are really comforting to patients. They are therapeutic. They want to be loved and give love. And she is just so cute and sweet,” said Walker. “She loves visiting people, and when I pull into the parking lot, she can’t wait to get into the hospital.”
On the day Pickles comes to the hospital, Walker and colleagues decide in the morning which patients might be interested in a little doggy love. One of her first visits was to a dying woman who had a dog that looked like Pickles. On another day, the daughter of a patient requested Pickles for her mother, because she missed her dog who was patiently waiting at home for her to return.
A recent review of 15 studies on the therapeutic nature of pet therapy in hospitals concluded that the animals reduce anxiety in patients and their families. Also, they helped reduce pain, and they offer other calming psychological benefits.
Trained and certified therapy dogs have long been a presence in Kaiser Permanente hospitals and medical offices across Northern California.
The dogs complete different levels of training depending on how many hours a week they work — the more hours they work, the more training they must complete. At a minimum, all must pass the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen Test before they go on to more advanced training.
At the Santa Rosa Medical Center, Physician in Chief Patricia Hiserote, DO, regularly brings a Labrador-golden retriever mix named Trix to the hospital and medical offices.
“Trix is an empath,” said Dr. Hiserote. “She knows when someone needs her. She’ll put a paw on them, and suddenly they’re crying, laughing, releasing something they’ve been holding in. She’s an energy shift.”
Trix gravitates toward patients in wheelchairs, children undergoing treatment, and staff members navigating the emotional highs and lows of health care.
At the Antioch Medical Center, Dominic, a small black Labrador owned and handled by pediatrician Kristin Moschetti, MD, started visiting children in the clinic 4 days a week for 2 hours at a time in September. He also spends time with medical staff, including hospital security.
“Dominic is most useful in our clinic for children who are stressed out because they are getting vaccines,” said Dr. Moschetti. “He helps calm the children before they get their shot and afterward. We found that after kids get vaccines, they will stop crying because they want to interact with him, walk with him and play with him. All the kids love him.”
