Therapy dogs help Riley kids feel at home during tough times
Meet Quigley. He’s a dog, yes, but for Riley kids like Piper Lyon, Quigley is so much more.
Today on Indy Style, Lauren Sawyer, PetSmart Charities, tells us more about Riley Hospital’s Pet Therapy Program and how dogs like Quigley are helping to change a patient’s outlook on life.
About PetSmart Charities and the Pet Therapy Program:
PetSmart Charities© recently donated $175,500 to Riley Hospital for Children for their Pet Therapy program.
Pets bring us comfort and reduce stress and anxiety.
Riley Pet Therapy is designed to improve the quality of life for patients.
This three-year grant provides a full-time Pet Therapy Coordinator.
The grant will allow the program at Riley to grow and expand services.
PetSmart Charities© is the leading funder of animal welfare in North America.
Piper Lyon, a Riley Hospital patient, has benefited from Pet Therapy during her stays.
Piper is 5 years old and was diagnosed with Burkitt Lymphoma after doctors found tumors throughout her body.
During treatment, Piper spent a lot of time at Riley and missed spending time at home with her dog “Bubba.”
When the Pet Therapy dogs started visiting Piper in her room, she was excited to interact with the dogs.
Pet Therapy provided Piper a feeling of “home” in her hospital room.
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