There is a new volunteer at Backus, but it may not be who you expect.

Chance is the newest member of the hospital’s therapeutic pet program, and the 160-pound Irish Wolfhound eagerly walks the floors of the hospital for visits with patients.

Karen Eberl, Chance’s owner and co-volunteer, has been volunteering with her dogs since 1995. She has worked with six different dogs, even one Great Dane. 

She said people are surprised when they see large dogs as therapy dogs, but Chance loves to be around people. Ms. Eberl has had Chance since he was 11 weeks old, he is now 20 months. She said she has been hooked on volunteering ever since she tested with her first dog, seeing the looks on people’s faces and hearing the positive comments.

“You have to make sure it is something the dog enjoys as well, that you are not stressing the dog out,” she said.

Amy Dunion, RN, Coordinator of hospital’s Center for Healthcare Integration, said there are six active teams that visit designated patient care areas at Backus and there has been an overwhelmingly positive response since the program began in 2002. Research shows that petting and interacting with dogs can lower stress levels and potentially lower pulse rates.

Barbara Cambria, who started the therapeutic pet program at Backus and volunteers with her own dogs, said it is always exciting to welcome another new and experienced handler and canine to join the other teams in the program. 

Ms. Cambria said hospitalization of a loved one can be a stressful and upsetting time for all involved. “Sometimes, when there are visitors in a patient’s room, a dog will visit and seek out one person in the group initially and seem to ignore others. Later, conversation reveals that intuitive dog just knew who was emotionally fragile or very worried and needed companionship first,” she said.

“Our first day couldn’t have been better,” Ms. Eberl said. “If you are a dog lover, when a dog comes in the room it engages you, you forget whatever is stressing you. She sees the reaction in families and hospital staff as well. “It takes them out of their element and then they are able to go back fresh, it is like when a baby visits, it resets your focus,” she said.

Volunteering takes a special breed

By the time dogs come to volunteer at Backus, they have already been roaming the halls at other facilities, sharing their unique brand of love and therapy. 

Each therapeutic pet team at Backus must successfully pass a national test from an organization that registers pet therapy teams. Additionally, before starting at Backus, new teams need a visiting history of at least eight visits at other facilities with a variety of populations. 

The Backus Therapeutic Pet program is a collaboration between the hospital’s Center for Healthcare Integration and Volunteer Services. Amy Dunion, RN, Coordinator of CHI, said the specific registration, through a nationally recognized agency such as the Delta Society, ensures the dogs are socialized for certain situations they encounter as therapy dogs. The dogs must be confident and predictable in their response to changing environments and have social skills to seek out and want to visit with strangers.

Karen Eberl has been a volunteer at Backus since last March, but just started as part of the Therapeutic Pet Program in January. She has been volunteering with her dogs since 1995. Ms.
Eberl first started volunteering after meeting a dog owner at an obedience class who did pet therapy visits with an Akita.

“With a giant breed, whether you do pet therapy or not, you have to start training right away and work on it every day,” she said. “You need to start leash training and obedience training from day one and make sure they know you are in control, because pretty soon they will be more than 150 pounds.”

Requirements for the therapeutic pet teams also include a copy of the test from the registering organization, vet forms, references and background checks.

For more information on the Pet Therapy Program or to volunteer, call 860-889-8331 ext. 2483.

To see a video about Chance’s first day on the job, go to  backushospital.org/multimedia

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