Lifting Spirits with Pet Therapy

Lifting Spirits with Pet Therapy

How Ochsner’s Pet Therapy program is helping both patients and staff heal

By Olivia Watson

From the moment therapy pets walk through the doors of Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans, the mood noticeably changes. “People across the facility stop in their tracks when they see us—asking to pet my dog Dixon, hug him, or even take selfies. He’s the perfect height for our pediatric patients to get face-to-face with,” said Alison Soileau, System Vice President, Patient Experience and Service Excellence. “Faces light up with joy.”

Ochsner’s growing Pet Therapy program primarily offers visits at Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans, but also has pet therapy teams at Ochsner Baptist Medical Center and in the Baton Rouge, North Shore and Lafayette regions. The Ochsner Pet Therapy program works with several local and national certification programs that are available to train owners and their dogs to become certified pet therapy volunteers. The dogs include many breeds—from whippets and greyhounds to beagles, pugs and golden doodles. Their number one responsibility? To bring joy to Ochsner’s patients, staff and everyone in between.

Brenda Hale, Pet Therapy Volunteer Coordinator, has led the program’s growth in recent months after retiring from Ochsner as Supervisor of Guest and Volunteer Services earlier this year. She couldn’t resist the opportunity to continue to be involved with the pet therapy volunteer teams. “Being a part of this program is incredible,” she shared. “It was originally started for patients— but these animals help everyone at the hospital.”

System Vice President, Patient Experience and Service Excellence Alison Soileau and daughter, Cassidy Soileau, handler in the Visiting Pet Program with their dog Dixon at Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans.

Photo: Stephen Legendre

This past October, the program hosted a blessing of the pets and participated in the annual Pediatric Halloween Parade. The pets dressed up in costumes of their own, as children trick-or-treated in the presence of furry friends.

Brenda is keenly aware of how donor support to the Pet Therapy fund continues to create impact. “Donations ensure the Volunteer Pet Therapy program can continue to flourish at Ochsner and meet the rising demand for pet therapy visits. It has already helped with recruitment of new pet therapy teams—almost a dozen new teams are expected to join this year,” she shared. Donations have also supported the program’s growth by covering certification costs and membership dues. Most recently, it covered branded water bottles and bandanas for the pets.

Cher and Clarence the dog visiting employees at Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans on August 12, 2022.

Photo: Beth Burris

“There’s so much potential here—a little goes a long way,” Brenda said. And it’s a price worth paying to see this community’s joy.