Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) volunteer Lisa Tillman (left) holds her dog Rosie while AAT volunteer Deb Reyes holds her dog Phoebe. Both dogs are “Shorkies” — a Shih Tzu/Yorkshire terrier mix. EEHealth is currently seeking more dogs to join the AAT program at Elmhurst Hospital. Find out how in the related story.
Edward-Elmhurst Health is seeking more dogs for its Animal-Assisted Therapy program at Edward Hospital and Elmhurst Hospital. To be considered, visit www.eehealth.org/ways-to-give/volunteer/animal-assisted-therapy and complete the online application. Applicants will be contacted for pre-screening.
Dogs that meet qualification requirements will be scheduled for temperament testing on one of the following days – June 10, 11 or 12 – within a two-hour time slot at Edward Hospital, 801 S. Washington St. in Naperville.
Dogs and their handlers selected for the program must attend mandatory training at Edward Hospital on Saturday and Sunday, July 16-17 or July 23-24, from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. both days.
For more information, call Cynthia Brooks at (630) 527-5305 or send an email to [email protected].
To be considered, dogs must meet the following requirements:
• Sit/down/stay/recall/leave it on command
• Walk loosely on a leash without pulling
• Get along well with other dogs
• Perform required commands without treats
• Like people
• Not be overly vocal
• Be at least one year of age at time of testing
• Lived with handler for at least six months at time of testing
• Current on all vaccinations
• Prong collars, gentle leaders and retractable leashes are not accepted
• Handlers must be 18 years of age or older
Handlers and their dogs are encouraged to have completed a group obedience training class within the past year.
Edward-Elmhurst Health’s Animal-Assisted Therapy program began in 2002 and has made more than 235,000 patient visits since the beginning of the program.
