BOUNTIFUL—Animals have the unique ability to make any day a little brighter. That emotional connection can help the healing process or simply put a smile on the face of those who may need a boost.

A local organization, Intermountain Therapy Animals/R.E.A.D. connects volunteers, who use their own pets, with hospitals, assisted living centers, court programs and other facilities to make visits and bring a little sunshine to an otherwise difficult day.

“It helps people feel better motivated to participate in therapy,” said Kathy Klotz, Executive Director of Intermountain Therapy Animals/R.E.A.D. “It gives patients hope for the future. It’s amazing when the magic happens. When they get their hands on an animal they are flooded with emotions. It breaks through the log jams for those who had given up hope.”

One patient, a 5-year-old girl, was at the University of Utah Hospital because she had been burned in a wood burning stove accident, said Klotz. “She was just refusing to participate in anything she needed to get better. We found out that she loved horses. So the staff bundled her up in a little wagon and took her outside where there was a mini horse. She started communicating with the horse and then she was willing to do what was needed. That’s what keeps us going – it happens all the time.”

Klotz said one of the dogs always pulls toward people who walk into a room and seems to know who needs help. “Typically the dog and owner would get off the elevator and walk down the hall then turn right to the nurses’ station for a treat. This time Charlie turned left and went to the oncology ward and found a patient who was sitting with a social worker. They pulled him into their lap and started crying.”

Potential volunteers bring in their pets to see if they have the right temperament to work with people in these settings, she said. “We want them to light up when they see a person. If they don’t interact, that can make people feel worse.” 

The animals go through a two to three month training to be ready to do the job then the volunteer can decide where they want to go, said Klotz. “They determine what clientele they’d work well with. For example if oncology is too painful they can choose to go somewhere else.”

Intermountain Therapy Animals started its R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) program in 1999. “We train the handler to give literacy support to children after school and in libraries,” Klotz said. “They work with children who are first learning to read. It helps them fall in love with reading early. Reading to a dog that doesn’t laugh or criticize for 20 minutes a week can help them go up two to four grade levels.”

Lindsey Arnold and her 5-year-old Golden Retriever Milo have been visiting Benchmark Behavioral Health, a treatment center for teenage boys, since June. “It’s been really rewarding to see how much Milo enjoys it when we go see the boys,” she said. “He just knows who needs him. One time this young boy was in a bad mood when he came into the (therapy) room. Milo got up and laid by the boy’s feet and he started petting his head. It was sweet how Milo read into the boy’s emotions.”

Bob Albrecht has been a volunteer for 10 years. First with his dog Daisy before she passed away and now with his dog Lily. “I visit Primary Children’s every Wednesday morning and alternate with the airport and retirement facilities,” he said. “I walk around the concourse and look for families with children or people who are frustrated with their schedule. Dogs can have a relaxing, calming effect on people.”

Albrecht said he has had many meaningful experiences at Primary Children’s Hospital. “The impact on these children is remarkable. One 5-year-old girl had had heart surgery two days prior to my visit. Lily came up and put her paws on the bed. Her mother said that’s the first time in four days that she smiled.”

Three weeks later they came back, he said. “The nurse asked if we would visit one of the rooms and when we went in it was the same little girl. She said ‘it’s Lily, it’s Lily.’ She started hugging and kissing her. It was a wonderful experience. It’s truly remarkable the healing influence of a dog.”