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Pet Therapy at MCH: Four-Legged Healers in Action

A therapy dog being lovingly hugged by a nurse in the hallway of Monadnock Community Hospital, highlighting the hospital's pet therapy program.
Pet Therapy at MCH: Four-Legged Healers in Action
Enhancing Patient Well-Being with Compassionate Pet Therapy

The Healing Power of Pet Therapy at Monadnock Community Hospital

If you’ve been to MCH in the past couple of months, you might have noticed our newest caregivers making their rounds. They’re not hard to miss, considering they walk on four legs and have wet noses.

In February 2018, MCH joined a growing list of healthcare facilities offering pet therapy services for patients. Pet therapy has been shown to lower anxiety and promote relaxation, in addition to fostering the release of hormones that can play a role in elevating mood. Other clinical studies have revealed that therapy pets help relieve boredom, loneliness, and depression in patients diagnosed with dementia.

In MCH’s program, a specially trained therapy dog and its handler greet patients, spending a few minutes at their bedsides. Patients can pet or cuddle with the dog and chat with its handler.

“Patients are thrilled when a therapy dog arrives,” said Christy-Sue Solomon, Director of the Medical-Surgical and Intensive Care Units at MCH. “Each of these dogs has a friendly and unique personality. They have a very calming presence, with a natural ability to cheer patients up. This program has been a welcome addition to our inpatient care.”

Organized and implemented by MCH’s Volunteer Coordinator Toni Gildone, the Pet Therapy program is available upon patient request.

We’d like to give special thanks to our therapy dogs and their handlers who brought comfort and joy to so many this past year. We love you, Coffee, Mea, Minka, and Sophie!