Pet Visiting
Pet Visiting
With the exception of service animals, and dogs registered with our Pet Therapy Program, pets are not permitted. Of course, exceptions will be considered on passionate grounds for visits from personal pets (cats or dogs only) who have been immunized. Please inquire with our Nursing Staff.
- Click HERE to view our document on Pet Visiting
Therapy Dogs
A therapy dog is a dog trained to provide affection and comfort to people in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes and hospices.
Therapy dogs come in all sizes and breeds. The most important characteristic of a therapy dog is its temperament. A good therapy dog must be friendly, patient, confident, gentle, and at ease in all situations. Therapy dogs must enjoy human contact and be content to be petted and handled, sometimes clumsily.
A therapy dog's primary job is to allow unfamiliar people to make physical contact with it and to enjoy that contact. Children in particular enjoy hugging animals; adults usually enjoy simply petting the dog. The dog might need to be lifted onto, or climb onto, an individual's lap or bed and sit or lie comfortably there. Many dogs contribute to the visiting experience by performing small tricks for their audience or by playing carefully structured games. In hospice environments, therapy dogs can play a role in palliative care by reducing death anxiety.
At Nipigon Hospital, our Therapy dogs enhance the quality of life for our residents. If your dog would like to become a Therapy Dog through our Hospital's Volunteer Program,
- click HERE to learn more about our Volunteer Program.
