Sit. Stay. Rehabilitate.: The Impact of Animal-Assisted Therapy Dogs

In this episode, we explore the unique role of animal-assisted therapy in a rehabilitation hospital and the longstanding partnership between Mary Free Bed and PAWS With A Cause.

Hosts Dr. Yunna Sinskey and Dr. Doug Henry welcome PAWS With A Cause chief executive officer Michele Suchovsky and Mary Free Bed recreational therapist and animal-assisted therapy dog handler Katie Harrington for a conversation about the many ways therapy dogs support patients throughout their rehabilitation journey.

From improving patient outcomes to boosting motivation, this episode highlights how these remarkable canines help restore hope, confidence and independence every day.

Katie and Michele explain how dogs are selected and trained for this unique role, how therapists build sessions around individual patient goals and how the groundbreaking partnership between Mary Free Bed and PAWS With A Cause has informed and evolved AAT in practice.

Dr. Sinskey also shares how her own experiences with facility dogs led her to foster dogs for PAWS With A Cause.

In this episode:

How animal-assisted therapy became part of rehabilitation at Mary Free BedWhat makes a dog suited for work in a clinical environmentThe difference between certified facility dogs and traditional service dogHow therapists incorporate dogs into individual rehabilitation goalsHow Vandy, Faith and Winton helped shape the programThe longstanding partnership between Mary Free Bed and PAWS With A CauseJoin the Conversation

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About The SumMARY

Welcome to The SumMARY Podcast, where we explore the complexities of physical medicine and rehabilitation, one topic at a time. Hosted by Dr. Yunna Sinskey and Dr. Doug Henry, we “sum up” the latest insights, innovations, and practices in PM&R, featuring conversations with leading physicians and healthcare innovators.