Seniors at Yorkton and District Nursing Home experienced joy with the placement of a St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog team.
The first visit with Springside residents Joan and Terry Popoff's dogs Millie, a standard poodle, and Ceaser, a miniature daschund, took place on Friday, Sept. 17. The Popoffs volunteer their time.
The belief is that the petting, affection and regular visitation of a dog can make a positive difference in both the physical and emotional health of people who reside in (various facilities), said a backgrounder about the program.
Gretel Comstock, director of community services, St. John Ambulance Saskatchewan, from Regina, who is coordinating the Yorkton program, said it is her hope that "(The program) will bring joy to their day. It will give them something to look forward to, and something else to converse about while they are (at the facility)."The Popoffs were first inspired by the idea about a year-and-a-half ago when Terry was in hospital for surgery. Joan had brought their dogs to the hospital to visit outside, and a nurse asked if they could take them up to the surgery ward floor. "So we brought our dogs up and they were surrounded by patients and doctors and everybody was so happy the nurse came up to me after and said you know, that was the best thing that happened to this floor all week long," said Terry.
"I just want to give something back to society," said Joan. "It's my way of utilizing my dog who I love and doing something for the elderly."
The dogs have to pass certain criteria before being accepted into the program, and the Popoffs attended orientation with and without their dogs.
The program began in Ontario and expanded across Canada. It started in Saskatchewan in 2007, and now there are 80 teams across the province.
Comstock said in general the teams volunteer about 60 hours per year, with visits once per week, twice per week, or once per month.
Businesses interested in sponsoring a dog, or those who know of a facility who could benefit from a team should contact Comstock at 1-888-273-0003, or view the website at www.sja.ca.
