CASA GRANDE — The Therapy Dog Program at Casa Grande Regional Medical Center has grown considerably since it was initiated in March 2005, when a 12-year-old Shetland sheepdog named Makenzi, owned by Jacqui and Weymouth Fogelberg, began visiting patients.
In the beginning, it was pretty much a one-dog show, with Makenzi, certified by Therapy Dogs International Inc., spending two to four hours, one or two days a week, visiting patients in some areas of the hospital.
Then two more dogs received certification, and they began making the rounds as well. But the program really took off when Jacqui Fogelberg became certified as a tester and observer in September 2005, which meant she was able to screen, test and train therapy dogs in Casa Grande.
Since getting her certification, she has added five more dogs to the program. And since the program began, therapy dogs have visited more than 2,600 patients.
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The concept of therapy dogs started after World War II when the American Red Cross, which had seen what the presence of pets did for the emotional well-being of patients, used dogs to help returning veterans.
A few months after the program got under way at the Casa Grande hospital, Kai Gerkey, vice president of business development, observed how a pet can calm a patient.
"You'll see them stroking the dog, and it lowers the blood pressure," Gerkey said. "The anxiety is lessened, and so it is a value-added part of the kind of care that we want to deliver here."
Therapy-dog teams consist of the dog, the handler (most often the owner) and a greeter. The greeter is responsible for preparing the patient for the visit, clearing away anything that might be an impediment to the dog, and presenting the patient with a memento of the visit — consisting of a framed, autographed photo of the therapy dog and a keepsake photo of the dog and the patient. All visits are done with the permission of the staff and the patient.
The path to becoming a therapy dog can be laborious and at times grueling. The first step is a visit with the dog and owner, in which Jacqui Fogelberg checks out the veterinarian's report on the dog's health and inoculation record.
She also observes the dog's behavior and how it interacts with its owner.
"It's important that a strong rapport exists between the dog and its owner," Fogelberg said. "And you can sense that even in the initial interview."
The next stage consists of one or more sessions when the dog and owner are tested to see how they respond as a team to elements they might encounter in a hospital, such as sudden noises and movements. If the team responds well to the tests, the next session is held at the hospital, where there are other elements to contend with, such as slippery floors, riding in an elevator and negotiating stairs.
Patient visits are not done during the first session at the hospital. Fogelberg brings the team to an empty room where she acts in the role of the patient.
"Each dog has its own approach in interacting with patients," Fogelberg said.
Fogelberg added that after the first hospital session, it's good to see how the dog anticipates coming back a second time.
"The dogs that I've worked with, they know what's ahead, and they're excited to be here."
