Source: Waikato District Health Board
L-R Waikato ED staff enjoying a visit from Amethyst – Kneeling – Tanya Suthers, Amethyst, Back – Rushi Jeyakumar, Lillian Pan, Lynne Kemp, Rhi Buckley and Collene Pacis
According to registered nurse Lynne Kemp, these are just some of the qualities needed for being a successful therapy dog. Lynne is talking about Amethyst, her 17-month-old Border Collie, who visits Waikato Hospital’s emergency department (ED) once a week.
Amethyst and Lynne are registered with Canine Friends Pet Therapy, a New Zealand-wide network of owners who bring their dogs to visit people in hospitals and residential care facilities.
“I started working with Canine Friends about four years ago, with Sapphire, my six-year-old long-haired Weimaraner,” says Lynne. “I love doing things with my dogs, and I loved the idea of being able to bring my dog to work. When I heard the ED was considering a canine therapy programme, I jumped at the chance to be involved.”
At Waikato Hospital, therapy dogs already visit the Critical Care Unit, Paediatric wards and others, but Emergency Medicine Consultant Dr Lillian Pan could see the positive impact they would have in the ED.
“The benefits of pet therapy are well established,” says Lillian. “But there are only a handful of studies done in emergency departments.
“A 2022 Canadian study demonstrated a significant reduction in pain, anxiety and depression after a 10-minute therapy dog visit, and an American study from 2019 noted that patients who interacted with therapy dogs needed less opioid pain medication during their ED stay.
“We wanted to gauge how people would feel if we brought dogs into our ED. We surveyed a total of 126 staff, patients and whānau and the response was overwhelmingly positive, with 93% in favour.
“The comments ranged from ‘People would love this, especially the kids’ and ‘When people see dogs in an unusual setting, it makes them focus less on their pain or trauma’, to ‘Just pure unconditional love – what’s not to love?’” says Lillian.
“It’s often a scary experience coming into the ED, with lots of people and plenty of activity going on,” adds Lynne. “Interacting with a dog is a great distraction, and it seems to have a calming effect on patients and whānau.”
That initial proposal was put forward over a year ago and, since July, Lynne and Amethyst have been visiting Waikato ED once a week to spend time with paediatric and short-stay patients. A staff volunteer acts as a ‘doggie chaperone’ and pre-screens patients for suitability, while care is taken for infection control and hygiene.
Just last week, they had a special encounter with a 10-year-old girl.
“I entered the room and Amethyst went over to her. Her whole face lit up with the biggest smile,” says Lynne. “Her mum said that was the first time she had seen her smile since their arrival the day before.
“It was so heartwarming to see, and reinforced the reason for my visits,” she says.
The visits are not just for patients, either. Both Lynne and Lillian are quick to emphasise how beneficial canine therapy is for the ED’s kaimahi.
“Amethyst’s visits brighten everyone’s day. It’s good for staff, especially when it’s busy and they have upsetting cases to deal with,” says Lynne.
So, what makes a paw-fect therapy dog?
L-R Lyn Kemp and Amethyst spent some time with patient Jan who thought Amethsyt was just lovely
“My dog Frankie, an eight-year-old Bichon Frise, is ideally suited to being a therapy dog and regularly visits a local nursing home. He’s calm, loves everyone and is happiest when he’s the centre of attention – especially if there are treats involved,” says Lillian.
“When I first visited a rest home with Sapphire, it didn’t go so well. There was a cat that Sapphire spent all her time trying to find! So being calm and not easily distracted is important,” explains Lynne.
Lillian agrees: “Dougal, my other dog, is a little scamp and would cause chaos if he ever went on a visit!” she laughs.
There has been tremendous support from staff to get the project off the ground. The Critical Care Team shared information about their therapy dog mahi, and Lillian had two ED trainees, Rushi Jeyakumar and Julie Taylor, to support the ED programme with her. ED leadership staff Liz Courtney and Simon Ainsworth were instrumental in pushing the project ahead.
Lillian says the benefits of pet therapy in emergency departments is a topic that needs further exploration within the medical community. “Implementing this programme gives Waikato Hospital ED a unique opportunity to contribute to further research in the area,” she says.
“I love coming in with Amethyst. Even though we are only there for an hour, seeing the happiness she brings is lovely,” adds Lynne.
