For happily ever afters and a welcomed return, Chesapeake Regional Medical Center reintroduces their beloved Welcome Waggers therapy dog program into the hospital setting! After a three-year halt due to heightened COVID protocols, these volunteer handlers and their certified therapy dogs provide much needed emotional support to hospital patients, their family members, and staff while adhering to strict sanitation and safety measures. Anne Crow, director of Voluntary Services, expressed her excitement for their welcome return, matching that of the patients and staff. Welcome Waggers has been providing innovative pet therapy services to the community for nearly twenty years, encouraging those interested in volunteering to complete an application.
News 3 photographer Justin Fleenor captured the momentous occasion as the Welcome Waggers returned to Chesapeake Regional Medical Center after a three-year hiatus due to heightened COVID protocols.
A group of volunteer handlers and their certified therapy dogs, these canine companions provide much needed emotional support to hospital patients, their family members and staff.
Anne Crow, Director of Volunteer Services, expressed her excitement for their return; “Our beloved Welcome Waggers can be a great benefit to patients during hospitalization by creating a happy, healing environment and reducing anxiety and fatigue.
Our patients and staff have been asking for these sweet dogs to return and we are thrilled to welcome them back!”
After the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, the Welcome Waggers program had to halt all visits to patient rooms. However, after three long years, these certified Therapy Dogs International volunteers and their furry friends finally returned in May 2022. The pups bring joy to patients who could benefit from their company during short, in-room visits that are requested through a patient's electronic medical record. They also visit nursing stations and waiting areas while adhering to strict sanitation and safety measures.
Chesapeake Regional proudly celebrates nearly 20 years of providing innovative pet therapy services to the community, and encourages those interested in volunteering to complete the application.
The Welcome Waggers program has had many obstacles since 2020, but after three long years the dedicated volunteer handlers and their certified therapy dogs have warmly returned in May 2022 to bring comfort and joy to patients, family members, and hospital staff. With their return, patient rooms have been graced with sweet visits through a requested electronic medical record. As Chesapeake Regional proudly celebrates nearly 20 years of pet therapy services, there's no doubt these Welcome Wisemoments of solace will be savored by everyone whom this remarkable program touches.
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