Cookeville, Tenn.- The Pet Therapy Program at Cookeville Regional Medical Center will be selling special theme T-shirts through the end of August to benefit the Pet Therapy Program.
Pet therapy dogs and handlers visit the cancer center and cardiac center at Cookeville Regional on a daily basis, where they are available to spend time with patients who are interested in meeting the dogs. The therapy dog-handler teams are accompanied by special volunteers called “Pet Buddies” who help the team interact with patients. The “Pet Buddies” enter patient areas before the dogs and ask patients if they are comfortable around animals and interested in meeting the dogs, before the animals enter the room.
Scott Lethi, CRMC Chief Nursing Officer, explains the impact of the Pet Therapy Program, “Sometimes a visit from a friendly dog is exactly the right medicine for a patient. Therapy dogs can often help patients relax and feel more comfortable. In a high stress environment, it is extremely important to find ways to help patients feel more at ease. The dogs really help.”
On August 28, pet therapy volunteers and furry-friends will be in the lobby of CRMC selling special pet therapy theme T-shirts. The shirts will be available for pre-sale through the end of August, when the final shirt order will be placed. Pick up for the T-shirts will be mid-September. “We hope the public will help support the Pet Therapy Program by purchasing a T-shirt. Keeping pet therapy going helps thousands of local patients each year who are coping with cardiac and cancer related treatment,” said Trisha Bohlen, volunteer chair of the Pet Therapy Program.
Shirt orders may also be placed at the CRMC Foundation until the end of August by calling 931- 783-2003.
Pet Therapy Handlers and Therapy Dogs include Charlene Gregory (Hershey), Bonnie Stoner (Sookie), Theresa Push-Godsey (Bella), Trisha Bohlen (Bob), Sarah Watts (Buddy), Kim Roberts (Jophiel), Kelly Hooks (Opie), Laura Cash (Smyth), Dawn Kulisek (Niro), Susan Shaw (Tibi). Pet Therapy Buddies include Susan Cox, Cheryl Polite, Jim Mitchell, Joy Mithcell, Beth Mannle, Pam Copenhauer, Linda Kroells, Pat Jordan, Carolyn Smith, Monica Carmena, and MaryDell Sommers.
For more information about the Pet Therapy Program, please visit:
http://cookevilleregionalcharity.org/pet-therapy