Pet Therapy Program
Pet Therapy teams bring comfort and happiness to patients as they heal, as well as provide a reprieve for family members from the stressful hospital environment. Our staff also finds joy in interacting with these special volunteer teams. Our Pet Therapy teams consisting of a dog who is AKC Canine Good Citizenship certified and handler visit patients and family members in the hospital
Patients or guests can inquire about a pet therapy visit by asking their nurse or contacting volunteer services at (208) 625-4645.
About Our Therapy Dogs
Therapy dogs enhance the patient experience at Kootenai Health by providing welcome companionship and comfort for patients and their families. Our therapy dogs are specially trained animals who have calm temperaments and the ability to function effectively in a hospital setting.
All of our Pet Therapy Teams are evaluated on an annual basis by Coeur d’Alene Dog Fanciers Club utilizing the AKC Canine Good Citizenship standards. For more information regarding training or how to obtain your AKC Canine Good Citizenship certification contact Deb Mansfield, Training Director, (208) 777-2977 or visit their website at www.cdadogfanciers.org.
If you are interested in volunteering with your dog and would like to learn more about becoming a part of our Pet Therapy team, and about our application process to become a volunteer….. learn more