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Pet Therapy at Exeter Hospital By Jennifer McGowan Community Impact Officer – Exeter Health Resources
“My favorite day of the week!” Chris Hewson smiles from the reception desk as Cinnamon the 9-pound Shih Tzu confidently walks through the doors of Exeter Hospital. “All I have to say is let’s go to Exeter, and she is at the door,” Julia H., Cinnamon’s owner and a volunteer with the organization Pet Partners responds. “She looks forward to visiting the hospital every week, jumping and spinning in circles when it’s time to go.”
Gentle and outgoing, Cinnamon walks the halls with confidence and loves to visit her adoring hospital friends. A year into the weekly visits, staff look forward to the break it provides. “This is my favorite part of my work day. You can practically see the energy shift in the room,” Sue Howarth, shift supervisor in the Emergency Department, shares. Cinnamon is one of five therapy dogs who visit Exeter Hospital regularly. Visiting with a friendly pet can lower blood pressure and relieve stress, something needed more than ever during the pandemic. The visits have lasting impact. Rosanne Swanson, Patient Relations Coordinator, rounds with staff and patients throughout the hospital daily where the pet therapy visits frequently come up. “They always ask about the dogs and want me to know how much it helps. All staff, no matter what department I am visiting are impacted. It rejuvenates their spirits and that ripples throughout the organization. It’s another thing to help get people through their day during a very difficult time.”
Pet Partners volunteer Erin O’Malley has four certified dogs at home, three of which visit the health system regularly. She has three Bernese Mountain dogs ranging from 2- to 11-years-old and a one-year-old Lagotto Romagnolo, a hypoallergenic Italian water dog. Stig, a much beloved Bernese Mountain Dog weighing in at 110 pounds, settles in for long visits with patients and staff. He often leaves stuffed animals behind that look like miniature versions of himself (and maybe a little extra dog fur).
Erin began volunteering with Exeter Hospital after receiving treatment at the hospital’s Michael and Jeanne Falzone Center for Cancer Care. “It seemed like the perfect opportunity. It’s close to home, and I knew how impactful it would be to see a friendly pet while undergoing treatment.” Her dogs look forward to the visits as well, because their shift
Cinnamon
Fenway
10 seacoastbarkmagazine.com
Stig with nurses
