Every other Tuesday, Morley is the centre of attention in the playroom of Victoria General HospitalB次元官网网址檚 pediatric unit.
ItB次元官网网址檚 the type of attention the four-year-old labradoodle doesnB次元官网网址檛 mind B次元官网网址� pets, scratches and belly rubs from kids and teenagers as he lounges on the cool blue floor of the small playroom in the north tower of the hospital.
B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 got to be really hard for kids to come into the hospital and leave everything, their family, their pets, all the familiar things at home,B次元官网网址� said Beverly Luiken, a View Royal resident and MorleyB次元官网网址檚 owner and handler. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a diversion from the seriousness of whateverB次元官网网址檚 going on.B次元官网网址�
Luiken and Morley are part of St. John AmbulanceB次元官网网址檚 therapy dog program B次元官网网址� Morley even has an ID card to prove it. As part of the program, certified therapy dogs and their handlers visit patients in Island Health facilities around Greater Victoria to provide a friendly visit and talk about life beyond facility walls.
RELATED: VIDEO: Therapy dogs make students happier, study finds
Twice a month for the past two years, Luiken and Morley have visited patients at The Heights at Mt. View, a seniors care facility. In the fall the program expanded its services to young patients, both kids and youth, who have been admitted to VGHB次元官网网址檚 pediatric unit for mental health reasons.
A few months ago, the pair also started doing drop-in visits to 911 dispatchers at the call centre in Langford as well.
On this particular Tuesday at the hospital, Luiken and Morley wait patiently on the floor as a young girl enters the room.
SheB次元官网网址檚 hesitant at first, but as soon as she sits next to Morley and begins petting him, her mood and demeanour changes.
Luiken and the girl chat about her family, how she hated being in cars and strollers when she was younger, and her love for her own dog, as she pets Morley and adjusts his red and white St. John Ambulance therapy dog kerchief. He even gently touches his paw to her leg.
B次元官网网址淢orley clearly loves this,B次元官网网址� Luiken said. B次元官网网址淗e just listens and doesnB次元官网网址檛 judge B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 very rewarding.B次元官网网址�
RELATED: Therapy dogs make appearance at B.C. Games
Luiken worked as an oncology nurse for several years in Calgary, before she and her husband retired and moved to Victoria. Shortly after, the family got Morley and Luiken started looking for ways to get back into the health care environment.
When Morley turned two, the pair went through two rigorous evaluations B次元官网网址� one to become a part of the therapy dog program, and a second to work specifically with children. And they havenB次元官网网址檛 looked back since.
For many young patients, that 15-minute session twice a month is a brief break from reality.
B次元官网网址淚 think kids in hospitals are missing their family pet a lot, but whatB次元官网网址檚 even more important is those kids with mental health admissions who are having a lot of challenges, itB次元官网网址檚 very therapeutic and calming to see a dog like Morley who is so accepting, so mellow and just loves to be pet,B次元官网网址� said Diane Edwards, a child life specialist with Island Health.
B次元官网网址淵ou can see it in the childrenB次元官网网址檚 faces when they come in. ItB次元官网网址檚 a beautiful moment in their visit. These kids could be here for days or weeks or they could come in more than once and it is a bright, happy part of their day.B次元官网网址�
For more information on the St. John Ambulance therapy dog program visit .
Like us on and follow us on
