CINCINNATI (AP) — The first time 5-year-old Calvin Owens went outside in more than a month, he met up with his canine friend Hadley on a hospital patio. Despite being tethered to equipment with wires and tubes, the little boy managed to stand up near his wheelchair long enough to toss her a ball.
He smiled as she ran to fetch it. Caregivers cheered.
“Look how good you’re doing!” said Hadley’s handler, Schellie Scott.
I clearly need to touch grass, cause when I read that headline I was not thinking of actual animals, but humans in fur suit furries.
It’s hopeful that hospitals are investing in facility dogs, so they can be kept to a higher cleanliness routine and made available to a higher percent of patients who want their support. The comment one handler made about assisting a celebrity suggests to me more kids want time with the dogs - and would benefit via the lower pain, cortisol, etc. levels dog interaction provides - than the existing dogs have time or energy for.
I hope this is not mandatory
