Animal Therapy
Benefits for All Ages
Animal-assisted therapy is known to have many positive effects on patients of all ages. Research shows that animal therapy can lower stress and anxiety levels, improve blood pressure, increase patient mobility, and provide an alternative focus from pain.
For more than 90 years, animal therapy has been in place in some form in our pediatric care programs at U-M Health. While much has changed since the days of ducklings paddling in tubs alongside patient beds, our commitment to the healing power of the human-animal bond remains strong.
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Paws4Patients Program
As part of our animal therapy program, we are proud to have six full-time facility dogs on our team as part of the Lipschutz-Danzansky Family Paws4Patients Program, which launched in 2016.
Our facility dogs were trained by Canine Assistants to work in a hospital setting. They were specifically matched to U-M Health based on our needs and the types of patients we care for.
While Barney, Dashiel and Fawn work-full time in C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, Bugle, London and McCoy work full-time at University Hospital. No matter where they are, all dogs are here to comfort patients and families through bedside visits, as well as motivate and assist during certain types of therapy and rehabilitation. Additionally, our staff are always happy to see the dogs working with their patients.
Safety & Infection Control
Our facility dog and volunteer-dog handlers always get permission before a dog enters a patient’s room. To further protect the health of our patients, dogs are unable to visit patients who are under isolation precautions. Dogs are bathed on regular schedules and handlers follow strict hygiene and maintenance standards. Everyone who pets the dogs should cleanse their hands before and after to limit the spread of germs.
If you are uncomfortable around dogs or allergic to them, please let the dog’s handler or one of your caregivers know.
Therapaws of Michigan
In addition to our hospital dog program, we also host visits from Therapaws of Michigan. Therapaws teams have been visiting U-M Health patients since 1987. These volunteers took a break during the pandemic and are returning during the summer of 2022. Therapaws volunteers (handler and dog) are matched with units and visit patients during regularly scheduled visits. Unit Hosts select and prepare patients to receive visits from these canine companions. Therapaws uses a strict screening protocol to ensure the selection of well-mannered dogs of sound temperament and good health.
Under the supervision of trained volunteers, these special dogs visit patients in a variety of settings: their inpatient rooms; during physical and occupational therapy sessions; in waiting rooms, and in other settings deemed appropriate by hospital staff.
Through the Therapaws Pet By Rx program, special requests for dog visits can be accommodated if a team is available outside regularly scheduled visits. To schedule a visit between a Mott patient and a therapy dog, speak to the patient’s unit host, nurse or doctor who will work with our Volunteer Services department to arrange the visit.
