The Dog-Tor Is In: Therapy Dog Volunteer Team Brings Comfort and Healing to Patients and Staff

On Thursday mornings at Adventist Health Ukiah Valley, there's a different kind of doctor's visit that patients look forward to -- one that comes with belly rubs and a wagging tail. The kind of healing that the dynamic volunteer duo of Laura Mares and Dogtor Flavio brings.

The pet therapy program was started a little over eight years ago, as part of the hospital’s efforts to provide whole-person care. Today, therapy dogs like Flavio bring comfort and emotional relief to patients, staff and visitors in the hospital and its clinics on a regular basis. These visits are a welcome diversion from the normal hospital routine and remind patients of the comforts of home.

“For the most part, people have an affinity to a non-judgmental, warm, furry animal that can come and just sit with them and listen. Dogs don't care what you look like, how you're feeling that day; they just know that when you need them, they're there,” shares Mares who has been volunteering as part of our pet therapy program for over eight years.

Prior to Flavio, Mares trained and made the rounds with Halia, another therapy dog. A licensed psychotherapist, and animal lover, Laura was inspired to volunteer after learning that the hospital had a pet therapy program. She spent many months training her rescue Blue-nosed pit-bull, eventually getting her certified. And for the next eight years after that, Mares and Halia became one of the most popular volunteers at the hospital.

“We’re proud to offer this service to our patients. We’ve seen firsthand how powerful the human-animal bond can be, especially in times of stress or recovery. Patients often don’t have a lot of choices when they’re here. This is one way we give them back a sense of control and help remind them of their lives outside of the hospital, before they became sick. And that life may include pets,” shares Becky Hope, patient experience manager at Ukiah Valley.

The benefits of pet therapy are well-documented for both patients and staff. Pets can trigger oxytocin release when we interact with them. This helps reduce stress hormones, like cortisol, and may lower blood pressure. Physical contact with pets can activate our parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes relaxation.

A new study by researchers in Ohio recently found that pet therapy dogs can help reduce emotional exhaustion and improve work engagement for healthcare workers.

For her part, Mares says she loves the connection she gets to build with the patients and staff. "How can you not smile when you see a dog? Patients are always excited to see us. It becomes a point of connection because everyone loves sharing stories about their dogs. It makes them forget about whatever is going on with their health or why they're here. It's just a nice distraction and a welcome surprise."

Mares does all this and finds time to visit with patients, all while doing her job as a therapist and being an active animal advocate and dog rescuer, also volunteering her time in those efforts.

Mares says just as volunteering benefits our patients, it also benefits her and Flavio. "It makes me feel good that I can share my dog with other people. Especially the staff, they deal with so much and it can be stressful sometimes. It makes me feel good knowing that Flavio can make them feel a little better. I have staff telling me, 'I needed this today.'"

And while Flavio brings so much joy to patients and staff, the visits also benefit him. He has had a rough life, having been through six homes, by the time he was six months, until Mares rescued him. "Just as Flavio gives that love to patients, he gets that love back from them. He gets to experience what it's like to be loved and not mistreated or discarded. The socialization has been really good for him."

Aside from the pet therapy program, volunteers also support the hospital in other ways, from welcoming patients and visitors, supporting the gift shop, visiting with patients and performing clerical tasks.

Volunteers at Adventist Health Ukiah Valley are accepting new members.

Apply to volunteer