APPLETON, Wis. (NBC 26) -- An area hospital is looking for volunteers to take part in their pet therapy program for hospice patients.
ThedaCare currently has a group of about 40 volunteers and their dogs who visit hospice patients and their families at facilities and in their homes.
Sadly that number doesn't meet the demand.
They need at least 30 more people who are willing to help.
Shirley and Tega Mae have been volunteering with hospice patients for four years.
"We try to spread as much joy as possible," said Shirley Sitter, a hospice volunteer.
Shirley adopted Tega 8 years ago from the Weyauwega Humane Society.
"I fell in love with her as soon as I saw her," said Sitter. "I thought she had something special."
Shirley felt the calling to help people and the pet therapy program for hospice patients was the perfect fit.
"Hopefully give a little distraction in their lives, just a little break from what they're going through," said Sitter. "Even if it's just a family member with just a little smile. Sometimes people go all day without smiling and we hope we can bring that to them."
"Dogs help people relax," said Jane Shea, the Hospice Volunteer Specialist with ThedaCare. " They're thinking about something other than what's going on in their personal life."
The pet therapy volunteer program has been going on at ThedaCare for more than 10 years.
Through the ThedaCare Family of Foundations they were able to hire a canine companion care specialist.
That's where Molly Johnson comes in. She helps recruit therapy dog volunteers.
There are a few things she is looking for when assessing a dog for this role.
"Very very calm, very polite, greeting people with all four paws touching the ground," said Molly Johnson, the owner of Canine Comfort, LLC. "Dogs that have been trained using force free methods. We are looking for dogs with a long positive history of happy visits to new places."
Training takes about 23 to 25 hours. Molly said it's the best time you'll spend all year. She said it gives you great perspective.
"Things that seem like they're a big deal to me really aren't in the entire scheme of things," said Johnson. "I've met some extraordinary people with extraordinary stories and I've learned a lot just from people telling me about their life and their history and about what's important to them."
The pets sit with the patients and offer a paw to hold. The comfort can spread from the patient to the family members and caretakers.
"Patients get very demanding as they get to the end of life and we want to be able to give that person a break who's taking care of them," said Shea.
For Shirley and Tega Mae, their time as volunteers has been very rewarding.
"You leave here so full-hearted," said Sitter.
Therapy dog assessments and Canine Comfort University training will be held this spring and fall in the Appleton, Shawano, Waupaca, and Berlin areas.
To set up an initial assessment of your dog with Molly Johnson of Canine Comfort, please call 920.716.1890 or email mjohnson@caninecomfort.us.
For more information, click here.
