Burke Rehabilitation Hospital in White Plains has launched Burke TheraDogs, a canine therapy program to support patients and staff members partnering with The Good Dog Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that trains and provides therapy dogs for health care, social service and educational facilities in the tri-state area and beyond.
Volunteers and their four-legged friends visit Burke two to three times a week. Echo and Nala, two black Labradors, assist patients in their rehabilitative journey while staff members also find respite in the weekly encounters.
“We are so excited to offer this program to patients and colleagues as we are dealing with challenging situations and living through trying times,” said Burke”™s Director of Volunteers Robin Goldberg. “The Patient Experience Department instituted this program to support both our patients and staff. There is nothing better than seeing a friendly and sweet therapy dog lifting up the spirits of a patient or staff member.”
Since its inception in 1998, The Good Dog Foundation has had a singular mission. Carly Goteiner, The Good Dog Foundation director of community engagement, said, “Using animal assisted intervention, we enhance human healing and learning. The Good Dog Foundation works
with exceptional dogs and handlers to achieve this goal. The owners and their dogs are highly trained and certified to work as a team and enrich the lives of each person they meet during each encounter.”
Burke TheraDogs looks to expand in the future with additional dogs and owners. Anyone interested in the program should contact Robin Goldberg at rgoldberg@burke.org.
