Therapy Dog Maya recently visited a group mental health session for teenage girls at Torrance-based Del Amo Hospital. As she worked her way around the circle, each of the troubled teens had a chance to pet, scratch or hug her. Maya lingered a moment with one 15-year-old girl, who turned to Maya’s handler, Jim, and said quietly, “This is the happiest time I have had since I’ve been here.” Then she smiled.

When Therapy Dog Ginga was volunteering on the floor of Providence Little Company of Mary Hospital, her handler, Nancy, had a special request from a palliative care nurse on duty. Would Ginga be able to visit a young, special-needs patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) who was on his last day of life? While therapy pets are not usually cleared for the ICU, the charge nurse was able to grant the wish, and a few minutes later Ginga lay on the patient’s bed to comfort him, surrounded by his tearfully grateful family.

On a weekly visit to Providence, Therapy Dog Tessa and her handler, Lynn, had a meaningful interaction with a middle-aged cardiology patient who was recovering from a heart attack. He had owned several dogs growing up and was delighted to have Tessa come to his room. At the end of their time together, he said, "Your visit has inspired me to get a dog again. My doctor told me I need to get more exercise to take care of my heart, and I think a dog is just what I need to get me out walking."

These and countless other stories exemplify the unforgettable impact that animal-assisted therapy can have on the people who need it most.

Maya, Ginga, Tessa and their two-legged helpers are from the Palos Verdes-based non-profit, Love On 4 Paws, which for more than 25 years has sent teams of volunteers to visit hospitals, health care facilities and schools in the greater Los-Angeles area. The organization’s mission is to make a positive difference for those in need through animal-assisted therapy. Its volunteers accomplish this by sharing the joy, comfort and healing power of their pet’s unconditional love.

Experience shows that most people really enjoy a visit from a furry, tail-wagging critter -- especially people in stressful or lonely situations. In fact, medical studies demonstrate measurable improvements in pain reduction, blood pressure, and stress through interaction with a friendly pet.

According to Love On 4 Paws Director Suni Cookson, the organization currently has about 40 pet therapy teams who visit more than 30 different facilities and special events in the greater Los Angeles area and Orange County, making over 1,000 visits annually. Each Love On 4 Paws volunteer brings his or her own animal to a specified facility at a scheduled time to visit. The volunteers also provide a Polaroid-type photograph as a souvenir of the visit to those who want one, free of charge. Some of these photographs later become treasured mementos.

“Obviously we lost some momentum during the pandemic, with hospitals off-limits to visitors,” Cookson said. “But we are now fully operational and full steam ahead. Our goal this year is to recruit new therapy pet teams to expand our reach and meet the growing needs of the health community.”

To accomplish this, the organization will hold several orientation sessions in the coming year and invite dog and cat owners to apply to be animal-assisted therapy volunteers. The next one will be held Saturday, May 20 at San Pedro & Peninsula YMCA, San Pedro, Calif.

“If you feel that your four-legged friend would make a wonderful therapy animal, and you are willing to make the necessary commitment, please contact us,” Cookson said. “We would love to talk to you.”

For more information about volunteering or to donate to Love On 4 Paws, call Suni Cookson at (310) 547-2200 or visit loveon4paws.org.

SUBSCRIBE FREE TO PALOS VERDES PULSE

Escape with me

I am a country girl at heart. Which is why plein air painting makes me tick. My best day ever is spent standing on a hilltop with miles of horizon beyond my easel, a rainbow of pastel sticks in my hand. Art is a transcendent experience, a virtual tour for my mind and soul. When I paint, I am galloping my horse through endless fields of wild oats, feeling the wind caress my face. Or crossing a footbridge over a tranquil pond. You might say I am a dreamer. And I am. I get to escape from the roar of the world, if only for a moment, and dwell in the places I have created. I hope when you look at my paintings, you will find yourself transported there, too.

Please see my website: https://www.lynnattigfineart.net/

Blessings,

Lynn Attig