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Dogs Aid In Therapy At Stanford Medical Center

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Nov 17, 2009 8:03 pm US/Pacific

Dogs Aid In Therapy At Stanford Medical Center

STANFORD (CBS 5) ― At Stanford Medical Center, one of hospital's top volunteers keeps an eye out for the patients, can sniff out fear and worry, and knows how to tread very gently. His name is Alomar, a volunteer canine therapist with an official ID to prove it.

Leslie Ewing is Alomar's owner. "He's just such a loving sweet dog and he has this look about him when he looks you in the eye of such an old soul," she said.

Alomar, an 8-year-old black lab, is part of the Pet Assisted Wellness at Stanford program or PAWS, for short.

The idea: To bring pets into the hospital to help patients like Mary Cabello. Or Heather Threlfall, who appreciates the hands-on therapy.

"You automatically are calmed when you touch them they're just. It's a very calming effect," Threlfall said.

This type of complementary care makes a difference, said Stanford Nurse Monika Bautista.

"Tension can be very high when in the hospital. They're worried about what will happen next and worry about when they'll go home and this just helps them take their mind off of everything else that's going on," Bautista said.

There is evidence animals can help the healing process: lowering blood pressure, providing comfort and reducing pain.

And it's not just the patients who are feeling the love. The staff also benefits from the visits.

"Sometimes we can hardly get thru the front door because staff members all stop to pet the dog," Ewing said.

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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