| VCU therapy dogs trot into retirement |
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BY JANET CAGGIANO
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch Clint Carter perked up the minute Hershey entered the room. With dog treats in hand, Carter invited the 14-year-old English springer spaniel onto his hospital bed for a snack. He didn't have to ask twice. Hershey stepped up on a chair and was eating out of Carter's hands in a flash. Hershey might be getting up in years, but her appetite hasn't waned. "Easy! Easy!" Carter said with a chuckle as Hershey devoured the food. On her last day of rounds at VCU Medical Center, Hershey did what she has been doing for nine years: enjoying dog biscuits and affectionate pats, but giving so much more in return. As one of the first dogs to participate in the Dogs on Call program, Hershey has brightened the days of hundreds of patients at the hospital. She began her volunteer career with children in the pediatrics wing. She'd show off a bit for them, rolling over, begging, chasing her tail and dancing on command. As she grew older, she moved to the palliative care area to interact with older patients. "She started with kids and ended up with the old folks," said Hershey's owner, Susie Burtch. "She's aged with them." Last week, Hershey bade farewell to them all. During her retirement party, she licked cake off a fork with Riley, another retiring dog, then the two went on final rounds. "This is very emotional," Burtch said. "This has been part of our lives for nine years. Now, it is over." Hershey's hearing faded out a couple of years ago, and now her eyesight is failing, Burtch said, so it is time to say goodbye. "I know this is something she's enjoyed," Burtch said. "Before going to the hospital for a visit, I'd give her a bath the night before. Every time I'd dry her off, she'd run downstairs and stand by the door as if to say, 'Can we leave now?'" Started in 1995 as Paws for Health, the program changed names to Dogs on Call in 2001 with establishment of the Center for Human-Animal Interaction at VCU Medical Center. Today, about 30 dogs visit the pediatrics, physical rehabilitation, psychiatry, oncology, internal medicine and other departments. Most visit once a month. But they can't keep up with demand. The hospital receives requests from about 60 clinical departments, said Dr. Sandra Barker, director of the Center for Human-Animal Interaction. "These dogs are just wonderful," Barker said. "Not only do patients look forward to them coming, but so too does the staff." Dogs like Hershey and Riley help patients by reducing their stress and feelings of depression and anxiety. They take a patient's mind off an upcoming surgery or lengthy rehabilitation. "It's uplifting to see the dog and pet it," said Jimmie Wilson as he scratched Hershey behind the ears. The Colonial Heights resident is battling colon cancer. "Anytime you are in the hospital, you are down a bit. This brightens your day." Four-year-old Karyn Alexandra Griggs, hospitalized for a few days for gallbladder surgery, said she felt much better after Riley paid her a visit. The golden retriever lay in bed with her and let her stroke his head. "He's soft!" Karyn said as she gave Riley a hug. Her parents, Jonathan and Paula, were thankful for the visit. "I didn't think they did anything like that here," Jonathan Griggs said. "But I'm glad to see it. It boosts her spirits and gives her the chance to forget how she feels." Riley, 8, has been in the program since 2000. His owner, Charlie Aldinger, wanted to volunteer because Riley loves people. But Riley is retiring early after being diagnosed with malignant melanoma. "He loved going to see the kids," Aldinger said. "He'd put his head on their beds and just be with them. I think it made a huge difference in their lives. For five minutes, at least, they aren't in the hospital. They aren't sick." Visiting with the dogs brings back memories for many patients. Carter, 79, has had pets most of his life and was eager to reminisce with Burtch about how his dogs would chase ducks and rabbits. Seeing Hershey took Wilson on a trip back in time, too. He used to have a dog by the same name, a long-haired dachshund. The dog passed away a few years ago. Wilson and his wife, Gail, keep their pet's ashes in an urn in their bedroom. To keep track of such stories, Burtch has written vignettes through the years about the patients she and Hershey have come to know. She didn't keep track of the exact number, but a few stand out. There's the girl, for example, who had a brain tumor and couldn't speak. But she was determined to give Hershey the command for sit. After numerous visits, the words finally came and Hershey obliged. "Looking back, it strikes me what a difference Hershey has made," Burtch said. "Her life has been an enrichment to others." Contact staff writer Janet Caggiano at or (804) 649-6157. This story can be found at: http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149190818458&path=!flair&s=1045855936229 |
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