At Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana, USA, dogs have a very important job: greeting visitors and patients as they arrive —
There are around five therapy dog greeters at Memorial, and most afternoons one of them is on duty.
Renee Langdon volunteers at the hospital with her therapy dog partner, Drew, a 150-pound St. Bernard.
Drew greets a visitor.
Drew, 3 years old, is a Delta Society-certified therapy dog, and has been socialized for this role since he was 5 months old, Langdon explained.
When guests of the hospital see Drew, their faces light up. Langdon greets each guest, asking them if they would like to pet Drew. Even guests who have walked by will come back to pet the dog.
“Drew has a very calming effect for people. You forget you’re in a hospital and you feel better about yourself,” Langdon said.
Dogs — and all pets in general — have been found to lower blood pressure, Langdon said.
[Via South Bend Tribune: Hospitality has a new face.]
I was interested to read that even people who fear dogs find a dog at the entrance way a talking point, as they share their fears.
What a great idea! Good on you, Memorial Hospital.
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