When Bailee, Buster, Morley and Willow spent some time at Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital in Port St. Lucie late last month, their presence brought smiles to the faces of patients, family members and staff, and offered some relief from the stress many were likely feeling.
Each with their own look and personality, the four well trained “Caring Canines” and their masters added a little spark of excitement everywhere they went during the Aug. 28 campus visit.
“The patients always say you made our day,” said Linda Levine-Brown, owner of Morley, a 5-year-old Italian Greyhound fashionista who dons a doctor’s coat and glasses when he’s on the job.
Morley has about 90 different outfits, but he knows what he’s about to do when he wears the doctor’s garb. “When I put this shirt on, he knows he is going to work,” said Levine-Brown, who enjoys accompanying Morley on his rounds and appreciates how they are both treated. “Tradition is so good to their volunteers.”
“It’s a great service that they provide,” said Suzanne Lumley, volunteer department manager for Tradition Hospital, Martin North, Martin South and local Cleveland Clinic ambulatory offices. Lumley is in charge of all volunteers, including the 50 active therapy dogs and their masters.
An annual highlight is an event called “Cookies, Cocoa and Sharing Canines” where the dogs come in costume to the lobby and cookies and cocoa are distributed.
All canine volunteers go through the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast program called Misty’s Pals and are required to pass specific certifications and tests before becoming Caring Canines. The dogs receive training for many aspects of their job, including how to maneuver around patient beds and wheelchairs.
The Caring Canines visit the hospital on a regular basis and attend workshops once a quarter to keep up their skills, such as being able to be around different smells and navigating around different types of equipment.
The Caring Canines have access to various locations of the campus based on comfort — including patient rooms. Exceptions include the intensive care unit, maternity unit and the Emergency Department. Patient rooms are off limits during quiet time between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
The duration of the canine visits depends on the dog’s stamina, with some lasting 30 minutes and others up to two hours.
“I really like coming to the hospital because you see such a variety of people,” said Janet Sharp, who volunteers at the hospital with her 5-year-old Mini Golden Doodle Willow. Living five minutes from the hospital makes it easy to just pop in, and Sharp says Willow is eager. Sharp also appreciates that she could come whenever she wants and can decide where she wants to go.
She likes going to the infusion area where patients sit sometimes for hours getting treatment such as chemotherapy. She also likes going by the cafeteria when staffers are on break; they can enjoy a visit with Willow.
Another helpful location for the canines is the entry area, when there’s often a line for getting the sticker required for getting into the hospital. It makes for a good distraction for those waiting.
Sharp decided to go through the process of getting Willow certified because of her love for people. She explained how Willow was a big help when she lost a loved one. “She was really a therapy dog for my husband and I, and I thought I really have to share this,” she said.
“I have her in the stroller because she is a little heavy for me to lift, but it’s also good for people in wheelchairs.”
Mark Harris has been volunteering with Buster for a few years. “He loves people. He just seems so gentle with the children,” said Harris, who got Buster in 2019, the year after he retired. “We spend more time together than anybody else.”
Buster also does some fun tricks like gently jumping up on Harris and giving him a hug.
Harris enjoys his time at the hospital and at other locations where he volunteers with Buster, such as veteran facilities and assisted living centers.
Wherever the Caring Canines go they get a lot of attention and share joy. Seeing the dogs also prompts people to tell stories about their own pets. “People show photos of their own dogs,” Harris said.
Bailee was trained when she was a puppy. She is certified with the Alliance of Therapy Dogs and has gone through a number of classes and evaluations. “I had her repeat a few of the classes,” said Terry Cowen, who recalls the first time she brought Bailee to volunteer.
“I was a little nervous. It wasn’t scary or anything. I’m kind of a people person anyway,” she said, noting that she was a nurse for 36 years.
“It brings us a lot of happiness,” Cowen said.