Fluffy Therapy

Sometimes, our four-legged friends can provide valuable therapy for sick patients. Learn about a local organization that makes pet therapy its goal.

By Daniel Snyder

Pets can always bring a smile to your face, and that’s exactly what Pet Therapy of the Ozarks does for those in hospitals, nursing homes, or even a patient’s own home. “The organization started about 20 years ago, and we do it to provide emotional support to folks who are in need of that,” says Nelson Knapp, board member of Pet Therapy of the Ozarks and volunteer with his dog, Pippin.

Knapp visits with his standard poodle, Pippin, at least once a month. He has been visiting hospitals, nursing homes and residential homes within a 50-mile radius of Springfield for three years.

Started in 1991, Pet Therapy of the Ozarks has seen positive effects on patients that participate. “The patients we see become a lot more relaxed,” says Knapp. “They have reduced respiratory rates, blood pressure and heart rates. It is a very calming effect, especially if you take a dog into a sterile environment, like a hospital. All of a sudden, people start to smile.”

Not only do the pets benefit, the staff at the participating locations seem to enjoy it as well. Not to mention the pet owners who get to spend a little more time with their pets outside of their environment. “A pet brings a different feel for everybody and brings a smile to their face,” says Marcy Keltner, nurse manager of Oncology at Cox South. “As for the patients, it gives them a nice distraction from what they are going through and why they are here.”

According to Keltner, studies have shown that pets provide positive benefits to patients. “It is very therapeutic for the patients to interact with these animals, and you can get a smile from a patient that you wouldn’t see otherwise, especially if they are animal-lovers and they have their own pets that they are missing,” says Keltner.

Volunteers bring their dogs, cats or even birds to hospitals and go room-to-room and meet with patients if they wish to participate.

“There are 80 members, 80 dogs, four cats and a couple birds,” says Knapp. “We have everything from registered dogs to rescue dogs; there really is a mixed breed of dogs.”

The requirements to join are pretty lenient, and all new volunteers must attend a workshop to see if

their pet is comfortable around sick, elderly or disabled patients. “A lot of it depends on the temperament of the dog,” says Knapp. “We do a workshop twice a year for new members, and we run the dogs through a training course once a month to tell owners what to work on.”

After their pets are approved by Pet Therapy members, the volunteers must make a minimum of one visit per month. “Out of the 80 members, we do about 140 or more visits a month within a 50-mile radius of Springfield,” says Knapp. “We really love what we do. People just light up when they see a dog.”

Want to Help?

Volunteers are welcome and must go through five steps to see if their pet is fit to be around sick, elderly or disabled patients. All pets are evaluated by Pet Therapy members, and a $15 workshop fee and workshop form must be provided. Active memberships are open to persons 18 years of age or older and living in a 50-mile radius of Springfield.
If you want to volunteer with your own dog, contact the Pet Therapy of the Ozarks at 417-848-7387 or visit the website here.

If volunteering isn’t your thing, but you’d still like to help the cause, Pet Therapy of the Ozarks also accepts donations. Call 417-848-7387, e-mail pettherapyoftheozarks@yahoo.com or visit pettherapyozarks.org.