Denver the Dog makes hospital stays brighter

Denver the dog might have the best job in town.

Once a week the friendly golden retriever and his owner Susan Venn venture into Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, visiting with patients to brighten their day.

“Basically he goes and greets people, makes them smile and lowers their stress,” Venn said, estimating he stops to visit with about 50 patients on an average Thursday.

“But then there’s the people who stop me in the hallway to have a couple of pets and a couple of kisses from him.”

Their reaction is priceless, said Venn, an obedience instructor who volunteers at the hospital through the St. John’s Ambulance’s therapy dog program.

“I meet a lot of people that are very stressed, maybe having not a great day, and when Denver walks into the room they start to smile.

They talk about the dogs they’ve had, and cats sometimes. You can just tell they’re not as stressed as they were when I first walked in,” she said.

Denver is the perfect fit for the program.

At five-and-a-half years old, the perky pooch has the right temperament for the job. Not every dog fits the bill, Venn said.

“He’s very well behaved. He has to be good around wheelchairs, crutches, all kinds of strange things. And he has to be very calm. He can’t be jumping on people,” Venn said.

Kelsey Lecappelain, the elder life co-ordinator for the Help Program at the hospital, said they jumped at the opportunity to bring in a therapy dog like Denver.

The program provides seniors with activities, meal assistance and exercise during their sometimes lengthy stay at the hospital.
Denver has quickly become an important part of the program, Lecappelain said.

“He gives them something a little bit extra during their stay at the hospital and really relieve some of their stress during their active recovery,” she said.

Dogs are good at that.

Recovery from any injury or illness can be tough for patients.

“When Denver comes in, it really uplifts their spirits. Everybody has a story about a dog, young or old, and there’s always something that triggers a memory, especially for our elderly patients. Seeing Denver come in with his fluffy face and his smile really brings a little bit of joy into their day.”

Lecappelain said because of the success of the program, there’s a possibility it could grow over time.