The Foundation’s goal with this project is to enhance physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of children and families in the care of The Studer Family Children’s Hospital through animal-assisted therapy. Research has shown that the lives of children and their families are strengthened physically and emotionally when facility dogs are incorporated into their hospital experiences. Interacting with a facility dog can lower blood pressure and heart rate, decrease physical pain, decrease anxiety and fear, increase self-confidence and increase motivation in relation to accomplishing goals. Currently, with Sprout, the initial facility dog, the Foundation is able to meet about 15% of the need for animal-assisted therapy within the children’s hospital. Once fully staffed, the program team could positively impact the lives of up to 600 children per week within the children’s hospital, spanning from newborns to age 20, all of which are facing some of the most difficult and potentially traumatic moments of their lives. The facility dogs would also impact the immediate and extended families of
these children, as they are typically present during visits. Through the expansion of this program, animal-assisted therapy in all areas of pediatric care will be provided so that on any given day, at any given time, if a child can benefit from engaging with a facility dog, it can happen, making “ruff” days brighter for all children and families in the care of The Studer Family Children’s Hospital.