Celebrate National Therapy Animal Day on May 18!

TORRANCE (May 18, 2015) – It’s hard not to feel just a little bit happier around a friendly dog, or even a purring cat or silky rabbit. That’s the premise behind animal therapy, which has been proven to lower blood pressure; reduce loneliness and stress; ease anxiety before and after surgery; reduce pain; and reduce symptoms of depression.

May 18, 2015 is the first annual National Therapy Animal Day created by non-profit Pet Partners to recognize all of the exceptional therapy animals who partner with their human companions to bring comfort and healing to those in need.

Providence Health & Services has animal therapy programs at all six of its Southern California hospitals: Providence Saint John’s Health Center, Providence Tarzana Medical Center, Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance, and Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro.

Providence Saint John’s will be celebrating National Animal Therapy Day with a special event on May 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nine of its regular volunteers and their furry, therapy dogs will be on-site. Visitors are invited to learn more about the benefits of animal therapy, enter a drawing for a gift basket full of dog-related items, pet some dogs and unwind.

“Humans and animals have always shared a strong bond,” says Grenda Pearlman, director of volunteer services at Providence Saint John’s. “Throughout history our pets have given us companionship. It’s only natural that this gift is now being used to help those who are sick and at their most vulnerable. This event is just one way to celebrate the amazing work of our volunteers and bring awareness to animal-assisted therapy.”

Love on 4 Paws works with both Providence Little Company of Mary Torrance and Providence Little Company of Mary San Pedro to provide volunteer handlers and pet teams. Jetta Vaughns, program coordinator at Love on 4 Paws, says that it’s not just dogs that make great therapy animals.

“In addition to all breeds of dogs – from Saint Bernards to English bulldogs – cats and rabbits can also make wonderful therapy animals,” says Vaughns. “In fact, we have a 25-lb. therapy cat right now named Tank who is terrific. He walks on a leash and thinks he’s a dog!”

Mitch McKnight, Los Angeles firefighter with the CERT Disaster Preparedness unit, has been bringing his dog, Sparky, to Providence Tarzana Medical Center for six years. Nine-year old Sparky is an Australian Shepherd/Collie mix and a registered service animal.

“Sparky gets really excited when I put her service animal vest on,” says McKnight. “It’s like she’s saying, ‘We’re going to work!’ But, once we get to the hospital she gets more serious, like she knows she has a job to do and she’s ready.”

McKnight says that his job teaching disaster preparedness demands that he remain calm and emotionless, but as soon as Sparky and him get to the hospital and see all those kids, all bets are off.

“I still remember this one little boy who was too sick to get out of his hospital bed,” says McKnight. “I brought Sparky in to see him and he tried to reach down to pet him, but just couldn’t quite reach. I asked his mom if it was okay to put Sparky on the bed with him. As soon as I did, Sparky started licking him all over his face. I said, ‘He’s giving you kisses!’ The little boy smiled and said, ‘Now I have a friend.’ It’s moments like that that are priceless.”