Lending patients a helping paw

Erica Johnson

Friday, July 20, 2001 | 4:35 a.m.

By Erica Johnson

LAS VEGAS SUN

For 7-year-old Kalie Drew, a patient at UMC's Pediatric Center on Monday, a docile 11-year-old greyhound named Stealth was just what the doctor ordered.

Kneeling in her hospital bed with bright, curious eyes, Kalie stroked Stealth's salt-and-pepper-colored fur with a gentle hand as her sister Karlie, 2, looked on.

This was the 15th time Kalie, a first grader at Roger Bryan Elementary School in Spring Valley, had been hospitalized for sickle beta thalasemia, a form of sickle cell anemia.

But on this day, a surprise visit from Stealth with his owner, hospital volunteer Dana Provost, took Kalie's mind off her disease, if only for a few minutes.

"Does Stealth chase Frisbees?' Kalie asked, grinning as the dog nuzzled his face against her leg. "I have a pink Frisbee at home. He can borrow it if he wants to.'

UMC is one of thousands of hospitals, retirement homes and hospices nationwide with programs that allow pets to interact with patients suffering from acute and chronic illnesses.

Doctors say this type of therapy, dubbed pet therapy, is not intended to act as a substitute for traditional therapy, but is proven to relieve stress, reduce depression and lower blood pressure.

While emotional therapy dogs, such as the ones at UMC, lift the patient's spirits through petting and touching, physical therapy dogs work with doctors in structured workouts that encourage stretching or moving.

Jay Fisher, a pediatric emergency room doctor at UMC, said pet therapy is especially beneficial among child patients.

"A hospital is a very alien environment that is inherently not very child-friendly," he said. "(Pet therapy) normalizes the situation. It reduces the child's fear factor. It's primarily about relaxation and stress reduction."

Stealth has been a therapy dog at UMC for nine years. Provost, director of the program and owner of two other greyhound K-9 therapists, said patients are soothed by petting and grooming the animals.

Provost, who works full time as a legal secretary, brings her dogs in to visit patients a few evenings each week.

"I have such a oneness with my dog that it makes me want to share him with others," she said."That's the ultimate -- to share the love of a pet with someone."

Provost took Stealth two doors down to visit Nicura Myers, 12, who watched cartoons in her hospital room while recovering from appendicitis.

Wearing a red satin vest labeled "K-9 Therapy Dog," Stealth leaned his head in toward the child slowly, sensing her initial uneasiness.

Myers, who was visiting her mother for the summer from California, said she didn't want to pet the dog, but smiled as Stealth reached his paw out to shake her hand.

About eight regular canine therapists, along with their owners, serve UMC, visiting patients in areas such as pediatrics, ICU and trauma. The hospital's volunteer department runs the program.

Other local facilities K-9 therapists visit include St. Rose Dominican, Sunrise Children's and Summerlin hospitals.

UMC's therapy dogs must be a year old and pass a 10-point test designed by Therapy Dogs Inc., a national organization that certifies K-9 therapists.

The test, designed to evaluate the dog's temperament, tests the dog's mastering of the sit, stay and down positions as well as basic obedience.

Testers also create calamities to determine aggressive tendencies. Therapy dogs must be comfortable with occasional tugs to the ears, mouth and feet, Provost said.

While dogs of all breeds and sizes visit UMC patients, the three most common breed of pet therapists are golden retrievers, border collies and Labradors.

Once a dog passes the test, it becomes a member of K-9 Therapists of Las Vegas, which means the dog is certified to visit patients in medical facilities citywide.

Although registered dogs are insured by Therapy Dogs Inc., a company representative said there hasn't been a claim since the organization's inception in 1991.

Other well-known pet therapy organizations include Therapy Dogs International, a national organization based in New Jersey, Therapet, based Texas, and the San Francisco Bay Area Friendship Foundation.

Dog owners must meet a separate set of requirements regulated by volunteer services. These include a tuberculosis test, drug test and a four-hour orientation on hospital procedure.

UMC's volunteer department has 300 volunteers, ranging in age from 14 to 93, in all areas of the hospital. Most volunteers operate on an as-needed basis.

Dog owners interested in participating in the pet therapy program should contact UMC's volunteer services, 383-2388.