therapy dogs

Spanish hospital enlists therapy dogs to boost ICU patients’ morale [PHOTOS]

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Spanish hospital enlists therapy dogs to boost ICU patients’ morale [PHOTOS]

Joel Bueno was overjoyed when therapy dogs Vida and Lu visited him in the intensive care unit, where he was being treated for a blood clot. The Hospital del Mar in Barcelona, in partnership with the Affinity Foundation, launched a trial to improve the emotional well-being of ICU patients through pet therapy. Patients receive two 15 to 20-minute visits each week from the dogs. The project will analyze saliva samples to see if stress indicators decrease and well-being indicators increase. Staff members in the emergency ward also benefit from the presence of the therapy dogs. Bueno believes in the benefits of the trial and says just the news of the dogs visiting boosted his morale.

Therapy dogs comfort passengers at Istanbul Airport [PHOTOS]

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Therapy dogs comfort passengers at Istanbul Airport [PHOTOS]

Istanbul Airport has introduced therapy dogs to help calm the nerves of travelers. The program, which has been operational for a month, aims to reduce stress and anxiety among passengers. Following positive feedback, the airport plans to increase the number of therapy dogs from five to ten. The dogs, trained not to react to sounds or people, have undergone a year-long training process. Interaction between animals and humans is known to reduce stress levels and anxiety.