For several years residents, patients and staff at Deni House and the Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake have been enjoying the benefits of regular pet therapy visits.
Volunteer Karen Wright and her Golden Retriever Maya have been doing their rounds making the lives of everyone they meet a little brighter.
Wright started bringing her certified pet therapy dogs to Deni House in 2018 after moving to the Cariboo from the Lower Mainland.
A few years ago, the dynamic duo added regular visits to the Hospital where they visit patients on the second floor as patients receiving dialysis and chemotherapy.
Even though Maya may be the ice breaker, Wright also takes pleasure in engaging with residents, patients and the staff.
“It’s nice to see, Wright said, Maya makes them feel good and that’s she’s there for. They don’t want to see me, they want to see the dog. They look at the dog right away and don’t really see me until I start talking.”
When they’re not at the Hospital or Deni the pair also makes regular stops volunteering at the Cariboo Place, 150 Mile House Elementary School and Williams Lake Library.
Pet therapy offers many benefits to humans such as reducing stress and anxiety, improving mood and emotional well-being, improving cognitive function and increasing social interactions to reduce loneliness.
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