HouseCall •
www.christushospital.org
11
PET PARTNERS PROGRAM
Hounds make the rounds
To participate in Pet
Partners at CHRISTUS,
dogs and their owners
participate in educa-
tion and comprehensive
evaluation prior to any
hospital visits. Dog
owners interested in
receiving more informa-
tion about the program
can contact Michelle
Hammerly at michelle.
hammerly@christus
health.org or visit
www.petpartners.org
or
www.deltasociety.org
.
CHRISTUS Hospital – St. Mary patient Chester Freeman with Pet Partner
Pyper and Pyper’s owner, Bret Wilkes
CHRISTUS Hospital – St. Mary patient Ariyah Guidry and
mom Courtney Guidry with Pet Partner Pyper
“
The dogs help patients, especially
children, cope with their situations and
sometimes even serve as emotional out-
lets for those experiencing pain or grief,”
she said. “The purpose of a dog is to help
a child grow up and learn responsibility.
The purpose of a CHRISTUS dog is to help
a child feel better.”
Meet Pyper
and her owner, Bret Wilkes
Bret and Pyper have been a pet partner
team for three years and visit regularly
at CHRISTUS Hospital. Pyper, a 4-year-
old Great Dane, recently visited Ronald
Thomas, a patient at CHRISTUS Hospital –
St. Mary. With permission fromThomas,
Pyper made her way to the bedside and
nestled her head on his lap.
“
I just could not believe how big and
gentle she was, “ Thomas says.
Another patient, Chester Freeman, ex-
citedly welcomed Pyper with open arms.
“
I have a dog at home I have been missing
during my stay, and having Pyper visit me
truly made my day,” Freeman says.
In the end, patients who receive pet
partner visits all agree that it makes their
hospital stay a little brighter.
PaTienTS aT
CHRISTUS Hospital –
St. Elizabeth and St. Mary can expect to
see more than the standard two-legged
associates walking the halls. The Pet
Partners program has been in place at
both campuses since 2004, allowing four-
legged canine guests to visit patients.
The program, established by Director of
Education Michelle Hammerly, has dogs
of many breeds and sizes bringing smiles
and joy to patients and staff alike in
pediatrics, telemetry, oncology, and other
medical units.
“
We’re very attentive to our patients
and their holistic health and wellness,”
Hammerly says. “This program fits right
in with that overall plan of care. The dogs
bring instant smiles and positive touch
to the patients, along with companion-
ship. It’s a pleasant change from the
day-to-day health care routine.”
As a Pet Partner volunteer
herself, Hammerly has personally
seen the positive effect that
her dog has had on patients
in the pediatric unit.