The Animal-Assisted Intervention Program (formerly known as Pet Therapy) joins animal volunteers – and their people partners – with patients in order to achieve rehabilitation goals.
Beyond offering comfort, motivation and joy, Craig Hospital’s animal therapists are instrumental when they integrate into therapies. Therapists also use the animals for helping patients speak, control their voice volume, activate a part of the body that was not previously moving, improve a patient’s balance, teach life skills, help a patient pay attention to a visual field they previously ignored. Opportunities – and results – are endless.
The Animal-Assisted Intervention Therapy costs $35,000 each year at Craig, which is just a piece of the critical one-million dollar donor-supported Therapeutic Recreation program (TR). In order for us to sustain the Animal-Assisted Intervention Therapy and other Therapeutic Recreation efforts that integrate recreation and passion into physical, occupational and speech therapies, we need you to partner with us.
In 2014, Beth sustained a lung hemorrhage that resulted in a coma and two major strokes to the brain stem, leaving her completely paralyzed. She was told that she would never walk or talk again. She rehabilitated at Craig Hospital following her brain injury. As a patient, Beth was inspired and motivated by Craig’s pet therapists.
Beth and her dog Jack Daniels are now volunteers in the pet therapy program, visiting and encouraging patients.
Andrew sustained a brain injury in a ski accident and came to Craig for his recovery. He’s now giving back to Craig by bringing his dog, Señor, to visit with patients. He inspires patients by talking with them about how far he’s come since his accident.