SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – Those interested in volunteering with their pet have the opportunity to learn more about pet therapy. In collaboration with PAWS (Pet Assisted Wellness Services) of CNY, Upstate Hospital offered an informational seminar to help people learn what it takes to become a therapy dog and handler in a hospital setting. According to Carolyn Hendrickson, Director of Planned Giving at the Upstate Foundation, those dogs are desperately needed.
“Our director of volunteer services has said she does not have nearly enough pet therapy dogs for the request she gets,” said Hendrickson. “We have a significant need for pet therapy dogs at Upstate.”
Hendrickson isn’t the only one who feels this way. Jeremy Bossert, one of the former patients at Upstate Medical University, greatly benefited from the therapy dogs.
“He did not have a dog of his own, his family did not, but when pet therapy dogs came, they saw such a difference in his demeanor and his countenance that they wanted to help provide more interesting pet therapy dogs at Upstate,” said Hendrickson.
Bossert passed away a little over a year ago and in his memory, his family then started the J. Boss Puppy Power Fund. The fund was named after Bossert’s nickname “J. Boss,” to help fund some of the expenses that come with getting a dog and handler certified.
“That could be the certification cost. We could, out of the fund, pay for a vest if the handler wanted to get the vest that their dog could wear when they’re in there,” said Hendrickson. “That could pay for it out of this fund amongst a bunch of other things. So, really how it came to be is because of Jeremy’s family.”
For those who missed the seminar but are still interested in getting involved, Hendrickson encourages people to contact Upstate’s volunteer services office.
