Interview with Melissa Stover-
Melissa Stover- Child Life Volunteer and Therapeutic Programs Manager
Child Life Department: Children's Mercy Kansas City
Q: When did you first start working at Children’s Mercy?
A: I started in September 1997
Q: How do you think therapy dogs affect people's lives?
A: I think that it is hard to know until you meet a therapy dog. For example, some kids do not want to get out of bed but the moment that the therapy dog walks in, the kids perk up and are automatically engaged. Also, the dogs are used to allow the kids to get up and walk around the hospital. It really motivates them to get up and socialize. They see the kids smiling, and then the kids want to get out of their wheelchair and pet the dogs. It is a motivation that is beyond human. I've taken a dog into a patient's room and I see them smile and they're happy and they are talking. I then see their parents crying because they have not seen their kid light up like that since they have been sick. So that to me just really demonstrates the power of these interactions with the dogs.
Q: What would be some examples of how therapy dogs help the patients?
A: They do a lot of work in the rehab department. The two dogs play this game called the cheerio book. And it has circle cut outs in which cheerios can be placed. They practice putting cheerios on the book, and they make the dog wait to eat the cheerios. It creates a really fun atmosphere. But then the kids say “Okay take it”, and then the dog gobbles the cheerios and there is slobber all over the book. But the kids love it, and it is a great way to distract the kids from the therapy that they are doing. Sometimes the kids need to get up and walk, but a lot of kids don't want to do it. But then we will say “if you get up at ten you can walk Hunter around the unit”. That is way more motivating, since walking the dog is way more fun for the kids. With the kids that are really sick, it is nice to have a dog who will climb up into the bed and provide that unconditional love and warmth, that a dog can provide. It is really unique because we cannot climb into bed with these kids, but the dogs can. So it provides a unique experience.
Q: What is the most meaningful thing that you have ever seen a therapy dog do?
A: Whenever people ask me this question I always think of this one situation. This was long time ago, maybe ten years ago. A volunteer who brought her dog Griffin to the rehab department, this patient had not been talking. We were trying to use Griffin in different ways to try and get this girl to speak. Trying to get her to say commands to the dog. The volunteer said “Do you want to make griffin go night night?” and she said we will make him go night night by singing him a lullaby, And so he loves the song twinkle twinkle little star. She had Griffin lay down on the floor and roll over on his back. The volunteer started singing the song and the little girl started singing along. And we all just got chills, because this little girl had not spoken in a long time, and all of a sudden she is singing. We really credited the dog because we had tried everything to get this little girl to speak.
Melissa Stover- Child Life Volunteer and Therapeutic Programs Manager
Child Life Department: Children's Mercy Kansas City
Q: When did you first start working at Children’s Mercy?
A: I started in September 1997
Q: How do you think therapy dogs affect people's lives?
A: I think that it is hard to know until you meet a therapy dog. For example, some kids do not want to get out of bed but the moment that the therapy dog walks in, the kids perk up and are automatically engaged. Also, the dogs are used to allow the kids to get up and walk around the hospital. It really motivates them to get up and socialize. They see the kids smiling, and then the kids want to get out of their wheelchair and pet the dogs. It is a motivation that is beyond human. I've taken a dog into a patient's room and I see them smile and they're happy and they are talking. I then see their parents crying because they have not seen their kid light up like that since they have been sick. So that to me just really demonstrates the power of these interactions with the dogs.
Q: What would be some examples of how therapy dogs help the patients?
A: They do a lot of work in the rehab department. The two dogs play this game called the cheerio book. And it has circle cut outs in which cheerios can be placed. They practice putting cheerios on the book, and they make the dog wait to eat the cheerios. It creates a really fun atmosphere. But then the kids say “Okay take it”, and then the dog gobbles the cheerios and there is slobber all over the book. But the kids love it, and it is a great way to distract the kids from the therapy that they are doing. Sometimes the kids need to get up and walk, but a lot of kids don't want to do it. But then we will say “if you get up at ten you can walk Hunter around the unit”. That is way more motivating, since walking the dog is way more fun for the kids. With the kids that are really sick, it is nice to have a dog who will climb up into the bed and provide that unconditional love and warmth, that a dog can provide. It is really unique because we cannot climb into bed with these kids, but the dogs can. So it provides a unique experience.
Q: What is the most meaningful thing that you have ever seen a therapy dog do?
A: Whenever people ask me this question I always think of this one situation. This was long time ago, maybe ten years ago. A volunteer who brought her dog Griffin to the rehab department, this patient had not been talking. We were trying to use Griffin in different ways to try and get this girl to speak. Trying to get her to say commands to the dog. The volunteer said “Do you want to make griffin go night night?” and she said we will make him go night night by singing him a lullaby, And so he loves the song twinkle twinkle little star. She had Griffin lay down on the floor and roll over on his back. The volunteer started singing the song and the little girl started singing along. And we all just got chills, because this little girl had not spoken in a long time, and all of a sudden she is singing. We really credited the dog because we had tried everything to get this little girl to speak.
Interview with Christen Weaver
Christen Weaver- Owner of Calvin
Q: How long have you taken care of Calvin?
A: I got him four years ago.
Q: What is your favorite thing about Calvin?
A: His enthusiasm. He is the most enthusiastic and he just loves to learn. I think he really just loves life too.
Q: Do you have a specific story about Calvin that really stood out to you?
A: Many times when family and patients come into the hospital and it is a really severe injury or illness and they're really overcome with a lot of emotion, we will see a calmness in the room when Calvin is in there. Certain people really bond with Calvin and he just really calms them down when they are worried. The greatest thing about him is that he does not notice if someone has a disability, he does not notice if someone is missing a leg or if they have an artificial limb. On time we were going to a physical therapy room and there was a young man there who had unfortunately lost both of his arms. And Calvin went right up to him like he was anybody else. Calvin was not scared. The arms that this man had hooks on them, but Calvin went right up to him and put his head on his lap, and the young man petted Calvin with his artificial hand but Calvin did not care. Calvin helps people feel like they are not in a hospital and helps them to calm down.
Q: What do you think is the main purpose for a therapy dog?
A: A therapy dog is there to help their community. Whether it is at an after school program with children, or if it is at a hospital. Calvin helps people feel better, and he makes them smile. They take a little bit of stress out of someone’s life. He helps them emotionally.
Q: How do you think a therapy dog can affect someone’s life?
A: It makes them feel not so alone, they feel comforted.
Q: What are some of the reasons that therapy dogs are so good with people?
A: They love to please people. They are really good at feeling the emotions of others. Calvin can sense if people are upset, or if something is wrong.
Christen Weaver- Owner of Calvin
Q: How long have you taken care of Calvin?
A: I got him four years ago.
Q: What is your favorite thing about Calvin?
A: His enthusiasm. He is the most enthusiastic and he just loves to learn. I think he really just loves life too.
Q: Do you have a specific story about Calvin that really stood out to you?
A: Many times when family and patients come into the hospital and it is a really severe injury or illness and they're really overcome with a lot of emotion, we will see a calmness in the room when Calvin is in there. Certain people really bond with Calvin and he just really calms them down when they are worried. The greatest thing about him is that he does not notice if someone has a disability, he does not notice if someone is missing a leg or if they have an artificial limb. On time we were going to a physical therapy room and there was a young man there who had unfortunately lost both of his arms. And Calvin went right up to him like he was anybody else. Calvin was not scared. The arms that this man had hooks on them, but Calvin went right up to him and put his head on his lap, and the young man petted Calvin with his artificial hand but Calvin did not care. Calvin helps people feel like they are not in a hospital and helps them to calm down.
Q: What do you think is the main purpose for a therapy dog?
A: A therapy dog is there to help their community. Whether it is at an after school program with children, or if it is at a hospital. Calvin helps people feel better, and he makes them smile. They take a little bit of stress out of someone’s life. He helps them emotionally.
Q: How do you think a therapy dog can affect someone’s life?
A: It makes them feel not so alone, they feel comforted.
Q: What are some of the reasons that therapy dogs are so good with people?
A: They love to please people. They are really good at feeling the emotions of others. Calvin can sense if people are upset, or if something is wrong.